BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand and the Netherlands have agreed to accelerate negotiations on the Thailand–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), seeking to conclude talks by the end of 2026. Thai Trade Representative Werapong Prapha met Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma at the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok on October 14 to discuss the agreement, investment opportunities, and developments in international trade.
Werapong urged the EU to offer more favorable import quotas for Thai white rice, chicken meat, and canned tuna, taking into account trade preferences granted to other regional partners. Although negotiations have advanced through 10 rounds, agricultural and industrial market access remains among the outstanding issues. Both sides recognized the need for an agreement that delivers tangible economic benefits while maintaining a fair balance of interests, rather than prioritizing speed alone.
The meeting also addressed concerns over government-supported industrial overproduction, unfair competition, controls on dual-use goods, and the situation in Ukraine. Werapong later attended a reception celebrating the opening of the Dutch Embassy’s new premises, where he met business representatives and discussed Thailand’s investment priorities. These include advanced technology, medical tourism, electric vehicles, agriculture and food processing, and clean energy. The Netherlands ranks as Thailand’s 19th-largest trading partner globally and second-largest within the EU. Bilateral trade reached approximately 7.97 billion US dollars in 2025, comprising 7.02 billion dollars in Thai exports and 948 million dollars in imports. (NNT)
