Bangkok: The Ministry of Commerce is ready to deal with challenges from U.S. trade policy, discussing with the public and private sectors to reduce trade barriers, promote the import of essential goods, and support Thai entrepreneurs to expand their investments in the United States.
According to Thai News Agency, in a meeting of the heads of government agencies at the ministry level, chaired by the Prime Minister and hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Wutthikrai Leewiraphan, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, reported on the status of Thai exports for 2024-2025. The report highlighted a continuous growth trend, with March 2025 achieving an export value of 29,548 million US dollars, marking the highest level in history with a 17.8% expansion over nine consecutive months.
For 2024, the overall export value was 300,529 million US dollars, reflecting a 5.4% increase from the previous year. During the first quarter of 2025, exports amounted to 81,532 million US dollars, expanding by 15.2% and resulting in a trade surplus of 1,081 million US dollars or 2,705 million baht.
The Ministry of Commerce has also prepared guidelines to tackle the challenges of the rapidly changing global context, focusing on organizational development to provide comprehensive digital services amid threats from major powers' trade policies impacting the global economy.
Mr. Wutthikrai noted preparations for handling U.S. trade policy challenges, which have persisted since President Donald Trump's administration. On January 6, 2025, Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra established a working group led by the Permanent Secretary to monitor, analyze, and recommend policy responses comprehensively. In February, a Thai delegation visited the U.S. to engage with both public and private sectors, aiming to foster mutual understanding, address concerns, and explain Thailand's stance formally. The Ministry also collaborated with the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB) to gather recommendations and establish a unified stance for trade negotiations with the U.S. This collaboration seeks to expedite resolutions to trade barriers, promote essential goods' importation, and support Thai entrepreneurs' investments in the U.S. for long-term economic security.
Furthermore, the Ministry emphasized developing mechanisms to drive the economy through trade with technology and innovation, particularly utilizing digital systems to enhance operational efficiency, including electronic content systems for document handling within and outside the agency.
