Bangkok (VNA) – The sixth round of negotiations on the Thailand-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) made solid progress, with consensus reached on three additional chapters, according to Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan.

The Thai official was quoted by local media as saying that the recent talks, hosted by Thailand from June 23–27 in Bangkok, continued to move in a positive direction.

Citing a report from Chotima Iemsawasdikul, Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN), Pichai confirmed that the two sides had reached agreement in principle on three chapters - trade and sustainable development (TSD), which involves enhancing standards relating to the environment, labour, and social issues in connection with trade; small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on ensuring SMEs can access comprehensive information on trade regulations and measures; and technical barriers to trade (TBT), aiming to facilitate trade by reducing unnecessary regulatory obstacles. The two parties discussed further market access for goods and exchanged views on proposals related to services and investment, also mapping out tasks to be completed before the next round.

Pichai said both Thailand and the EU were pleased with the outcomes of this round, especially the TSD chapter, which is of key importance to both sides. This direction also reflects the global trend toward sustainable trade.

Both parties also placed strong emphasis on helping SMEs access regulatory information to better utilise the benefits of the FTA.

Given the global geopolitical and economic uncertainties, Thailand and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to being reliable and predictable trade partners, Pichai said.

He also expressed Thailand’s readiness to accelerate negotiations with the aim of concluding the FTA as soon as possible, in line with discussions he held with Maroš Šefčovič, the EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, during the OECD meeting in Paris earlier this month.

This drive is consistent with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s policy to expand Thailand’s trade opportunities, explore new markets abroad, and attract increased foreign investment, he added.

From January to May 2025, the EU was Thailand’s fourth-largest trading partner after China, the US, and Japan. Total trade between the two sides stood at 18.09 billion USD, up 0.57% from the same period in 2024.

Thai exports to the EU reached 10.69 billion USD, an increase of 8.86%, while imports fell by 9.40% to 7.39 billion USD, resulting in a trade surplus of 3.30 billion USD for Thailand.

🌳 According to the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, the seventh round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Brussels, Belgium, from September 29 to October 3./.