Thailand is pushing hard to lock down a free trade agreement with the European Union, a move designed to reduce the country’s exposure to volatile US tariff policy and loosen its dependence on both American and Chinese supply chains.
FTA negotiations between Thailand and the EU originally launched in March 2013. Then a military coup in 2014 hit the pause button for nearly a decade. Talks didn’t resume until March 2023, and now Thai officials are targeting a deal by the end of 2025 or mid-2026.
Under a US-Thailand reciprocal trade framework established in October 2025, Thailand agreed to eliminate tariffs on approximately 99% of US goods. In return, the US maintained a reciprocal tariff of 19% on Thai imports.
On February 16, 2026, Thai Industry Minister Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana met with EU Ambassador Luisa Ragher to discuss accelerating the negotiation timeline. The conversation reportedly included alignment on green economy standards, a topic the EU has increasingly woven into its trade agreements as a condition for market access.
A broader diversification strategy
