Highlights from Thailand-U.S. Strategic Dialogue & U.S. Secretary Raimondo’s Visit

Thailand hosted the 2nd Thailand-U.S. Strategic and Defense Dialogue (2+2), in line with the Thailand-U.S. Communique on Strategic Partnership, from February 28 to February 29, 2024. The dialogue reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing multi-faceted cooperation across critical areas, including defense and security, economic partnership, climate actions, health security, education, science and technology, and people-to-people ties, and collaborations at regional and multilateral levels. The meeting highlighted the commitment of both countries to accelerate economic partnership through initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), the ASEAN-U.S. cooperation, ACMECS, and the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP). Partnerships to advance public health capacity and global health security were emphasized, along with discussions on establishing a Security Dialogue to address challenges like cyber security and transnational crime. Both parties explored increased cooperation on intelligence and information sharing as well as capacity building for relevant Thai law enforcement agencies. With strategic partnerships being forged in critical areas, the U.S. private sector can anticipate significant collaborations and robust trade relations with Thailand.
 
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo led a delegation from the President’s Export Council (PEC) to Bangkok, Thailand, from March 13 to March 14, 2024. The focus of this official visit was to identify collaboration opportunities between the United States and Thailand in several critical areas such as manufacturing, supply chain resiliency, artificial intelligence, and clean technology. During the visit, Secretary Raimondo met with Thai Prime Minster Srettha Thavisin to discuss advancing shared economic priorities through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). Discussions also centered on potential collaborations in semiconductors, clean energy, electric vehicles, and sustainability. Secretary Raimondo held meetings with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara to discuss progress and future steps for IPEF and opportunities in delivering tangible benefits for partners’ workers, businesses, and economies. The meeting between Secretary Raimondo and Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Chanthararuangthong highlighted opportunities for collaboration in the digital economy, including ASEAN’s digital Economy Framework Agreement; artificial intelligence; and cybersecurity. 
 
During a series of business engagements, Secretary Raimondo engaged with distinguished members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand to further strengthen economic ties between the two nations. Secretary Raimondo emphasized Thailand's role as a crucial trade partner and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to amplifying collaboration in the region. The meeting between Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai, Secretary Raimondo, and President’s Export Council (PEC) members further exchanged ideas on strengthening trade and investment ties across manufacturing, supply chain resiliency, artificial intelligence, and clean technology. The official visit by Secretary Raimondo complements Thailand Vision 2030, an initiative by Srettha’s government to establish Thailand as the region’s industrial hub in tourism, wellness and medical, agriculture and food, aviation, regional logistics, future automotive manufacturing, digital economy, and finance. U.S. companies stand to benefit from the positive signals generated during the meetings, further reinforcing the 190 years of formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Thailand.