US & Thailand Held TIFA Meeting

April 18, 2014. Ministry of Commerce and USTR held a video conference intercessional Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Joint Council (TIFA JC) meeting. Christine Brown, USTR’s Director for Southeast Asia and Pacific Affairs, and Somkiat Triratpan (left), Deputy Director-General of Department of trade negotiation of Ministry of Commerce co-chaired the discussion to enhance and strengthen the longstanding economic relationship between Thailand and the US. Other participants in the meeting included Department of State, Department of Labor, Custom and Boarder protection,
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology as well as Department of Fisheries.

The Thailand – US TIFA JC is the key mechanism and fundamental to foster trade and investment between the two countries which covers all the issues that are significant to the stakeholders. As for this meeting both sides discussed on the progress of various topics including human trafficking and labor issues, ASEAN-US TIFA and Expanded Economic Agreement Engagement (E3) Initiatives as well as customs matters. Both sides received the updated of all issues and had a successful discussion. Currently, US is the third largest trading partner for Thailand (follow China and Japan). In 2013, total two way goods trade between Thailand and US was $38 billion. The TIFA, signed in 2002, provides the primary mechanism for trade dialogue between Thailand and the US authorities to expand trade and investment links and deepen cooperation.

– Office of Commercial Affairs

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