SUZHOU, China– Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun showcased Thailand’s proactive economic diplomacy at the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (APEC MRT 2026) in Suzhou, China, from May 22–23, 2026, securing key bilateral trade talks and advancing digital and green supply chain initiatives.
The Commerce Minister engaged with 21 member economies under China’s host theme of maintaining open, predictable, and resilient trade. Addressing the assembly, the Minister proposed reducing regulatory disparities to build flexible supply chains and highlighted Thailand’s capacity to lead in food security, high-value agriculture, digital transitions, and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development.
Domestically, the deputy prime minister highlighted comprehensive ease-of-doing-business reforms that position Thailand as a premier regional logistics hub. These include regulatory streamlining via the Omnibus Law, the Business Data Exchange (BDEX) network, and the Board of Investment’s (BOI) “FastPass” expedited approval track. They are paired with paperless customs operations, artificial intelligence-driven precision farming, community solar grids, and carbon credit marketplaces to help Thai businesses enter global green supply chains.
The Commerce Minister also held strategic bilateral talks with key partners on the sidelines of the meeting. She updated U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Ambassador Rick Switzer on the progress of the pending Thailand-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), aiming for a swift conclusion to boost private-sector investor confidence. She met Australian delegates to expand investments in clean energy and digital commerce and held high-level talks with China’s Deputy Prime Minister and Singapore’s Trade Minister.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that participation in APEC MRT 2026 provides a platform to advance Thailand’s economic interests, expand trade and investment opportunities, strengthen market access, and reinforce Thailand’s position as a trusted economic partner.
APEC remains Thailand’s primary commercial market; in 2025, bilateral trade topped 16.3 trillion THB (495 billion USD), representing 72.24% of Thailand’s total global trade. (NNT)
