FTI urges swift conclusion of ART deal, says US is top export market
GeopoliticsMacro
The Federation of Thai Industries supports the government in accelerating the conclusion of the Thailand-US Reciprocal Trade Agreement, or ART, during negotiations from 27 August to 1 September, noting that the United States is Thailand's number one export market, accounting for 24% of total export value. In the first six months of 2026, Thailand exported 47.14 billion US dollars to the United States, an increase of 41.1% from the same period last year. The FTI believes the goal of the ART should be to reduce trade barriers, create certainty, and open the way for more balanced joint investment, while noting that at least 30% of the Thailand-US trade surplus comes from exports by US companies using Thailand as a production base.
