Overview
The United States and Thailand have maintained a special commercial relationship for more than 190 years. The first Treaty of Amity and Commerce, signed in 1833, established formal diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations, making Thailand (then Siam) the first Asian country to sign such an agreement with the United States. The current Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations of 1966 grants U.S. companies’ national treatment in Thailand—allowing them to operate on an equal footing with Thai companies—subject to certain restricted sectors. Further details on the business environment in Thailand are provided in the following sections.
Exporting to Thailand
Getting Started
Visit Trade.gov/Thailand to get an overview of economic conditions and opportunities. Access the U.S. Commercial Service Market Research Library containing more than 100,000 industry and country-specific market reports, authored by our specialists working in overseas posts.
Make use of business matchmaking services and other resources provided by the U.S. Commercial Service, including trade counseling, market intelligence and commercial diplomacy, among many others. For companies new to the Thai
market, Commercial Service Thailand’s Initial Market Check provides U.S. firms with an initial assessment of the market potential of their product or service in a targeted market. Contact Office.Bangkok@trade.gov to learn more.
Contact your local U.S. Export Assistance Center for advice and support on exporting to Thailand.
Visit the U.S. Trade and Development Agency website to view grant and contract program opportunities, as well as upcoming events.
Contact the U.S. Export-Import Bank for guidance regarding financing for your exports of goods or services.
Contact U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to find the Intellectual Property Protection.
Contact your local Small Business Development Center and visit the U.S. Small Business Administration’s webpage on exports. Starting a business can be a challenge, but there is help for you in your area.
Contact in-country business associations such as the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand or the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.
Investing in Thailand
If you are a potential investor in Thailand, here are some steps you may wish to:
- Review the FAQ’s regarding the U.S.-Thailand Treaty of Amity.
- Review the Department of State’s Investment Climate Statements and Department of Commerce’s Country Commercial Guide for the latest analysis of the economic and political conditions in Thailand.
- Participate in a Direct Line webinar for information on market opportunities provided by Ambassadors and local experts.
- Visit host country resources, such as the Board of Investment of Thailand.
- Contact local U.S. business support organizations, such as the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand or the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.
- Subscribe to U.S. Embassy Bangkok Facebook or Twitter
- Subscribe to our commercial twitter feed and visit our Trade.gov/Thailand.
Current Investors: Staying Connected
If you are a current U.S. investor in Thailand, the U.S Embassy wants to stay in touch. Here are a few steps you can take to keep the channels of communication open:
- Inform us of challenges that you may be facing: Office.Bangkok@trade.gov
- Subscribe to our embassy Facebook page or Twitter feed
- Subscribe to our commercial twitter feed and visit our Trade.gov/Thailand.
Other Information
Travel Advisories
Before visiting Thailand, visit the State Department travel site for up-to-date travel information.
FCPA
The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is an important anti-corruption tool designed to discourage corrupt business practices in favor of free and fair markets. The FCPA prohibits promising, offering, giving or authorizing anything of value to a foreign government official where the purpose is to obtain or retain business. These prohibitions apply to U.S. persons, both individuals and companies, and companies that are listed on U.S. exchanges. The statute also requires companies publicly traded in the U.S. to keep accurate books and records and implement appropriate internal controls.
More information on the FCPA can be found here: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa/
A party to a transaction seeking to know whether a proposed course of conduct would violate the FCPA can take advantage of the opinion procedure established by the statue. Within 30 days of receiving a description of a proposed course of conduct in writing, the Attorney General will provide the party with a written opinion on whether the proposed conduct would violate the FCPA. Not only do opinions provide the requesting party with a rebuttable presumption that the conduct does not violate the FCPA, but DOJ publishes past opinions which can provide guidance for other companies facing similar situations.
More information on the DOJ opinion procedure can be found here (PDF 25 KB).
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/fcpa-opinions
Importing from Thailand
Where can I find more information about buying from Thailand?
These websites can provide more information about how to purchase goods from Thailand.