The Ministry of Commerce revealed that the 9th round of Thailand-EU FTA negotiations has made a leap forward, concluding 8 additional issues, bringing total agreed chapters to 15 out of 24. Suphajee is accelerating efforts to reach the final stage, preparing for the 10th round in Thailand this September.
Ms. Suphajee Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, announced that the 9th round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Thailand and the EU, held from 22-30 June 2026 in Brussels, Belgium, showed significant progress on many issues. Four additional chapters were concluded: (1) Competition and subsidies, involving equal enforcement of competition laws and transparent subsidy rules; (2) State enterprises, ensuring those covered by the agreement conduct commercial activities without discrimination; (3) Dispute settlement, establishing mechanisms for resolving state-to-state disputes in case of FTA breaches; and (4) Provisions on agreement management.
Furthermore, four more issues were agreed upon, comprising three annexes and one protocol, namely:
(1) Annex on duties related to export goods,
(2) Annex on import and export monopolies,
(3) Automotive annex under the chapter on technical barriers to trade,
and (4) Protocol on mutual customs assistance. Combined with previously concluded topics, this brings the total to 15 chapters out of 24 and related annexes, achieving about two-thirds of the entire agreement.
Ms. Suphajee added that the remaining issues are nearing agreement, including anti-fraud measures and final provisions of the agreement. Negotiations on market access covering goods, services and investment, and government procurement continue to advance with detailed discussions underway. This marks a critical phase moving towards the final stretch. The next round will focus on the remaining third of issues significant to Thailand’s economy, such as agricultural and industrial products, government procurement, energy and raw material management, digital trade, services and investment, as well as laws and regulations including intellectual property.
“The Thai chief negotiator reported that this round made substantial progress, driven by political support from high-level talks on 24 June 2026 in Brussels. I and Thai Trade Representative Veerapong Prapha met with European Commissioners Maroš Šefčovič (Trade and Economic Security) and Christos Hansen (Agriculture and Food). Both sides affirmed their joint determination to expedite the FTA negotiations and instructed the chief negotiators to develop joint work plans and closely address outstanding issues,” said Suphajee.
Moving forward, the Ministry of Commerce through the Department of International Trade Negotiations will convene a working group chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce to address key pending issues with relevant agencies. Both sides will hold interim consultations at the chief negotiator and negotiation group levels, including ministerial meetings. European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will visit Thailand ahead of the 10th round scheduled for late September 2026 in Thailand to monitor progress and push for maximum advancement and early conclusion, aligning with the ministers’ targets and mutual strategies to elevate economic ties, expand trade and investment opportunities based on shared benefits, maintain competitiveness, and strengthen sustainable development cooperation amid geopolitical and global economic uncertainties.
In 2025, the EU was Thailand’s fourth largest trading partner after China, the US, and Japan. Bilateral trade totaled 45.03 billion USD, up 3.44% from the same period in 2024. Thai exports to the EU were valued at 26.45 billion USD, an increase of 9.27% from 2024, with key exports including:
(1) Computers, equipment, and components,
(2) Gems and jewelry,
(3) Air conditioners and parts,
(4) Rubber products,
and (5) Electrical transformers and components.
Thai imports from the EU totaled 18.58 billion USD, down 3.86% from 2024, with major imports such as:
(1) Machinery and parts,
(2) Medical and pharmaceutical products,
(3) Chemicals,
(4) Electrical machinery and components,
and (5) Scientific and medical instruments.
Thailand achieved a trade surplus of 7.86 billion USD.
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