Strategic Response to U.S. Tariff Policies: Building a Win-Win Partnership at SelectUSA 2025

On May 11, 2025, at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C., a high-level Thai delegation, including senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Board of Investment, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, alongside executives from major Thai corporations such as PTTEP, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), Indorama Ventures, SCG Packaging, Thai Summit, and Banpu, worked to bolster economic ties with the United States amid potential tariff increases under the incoming Trump administration. Thailand’s Ambassador to the U.S. facilitated high-level engagements to advance these goals.

As a leading ASEAN investor in the U.S., Thailand has already contributed over USD 17 billion in direct investments, creating more than 15,000 jobs. To maintain competitiveness, the delegation outlined a proactive strategy, committing an additional USD 2 billion to establish U.S.-based manufacturing hubs that serve global markets, thereby reducing tariff exposure and diversifying supply chains. Thailand is promoting joint manufacturing models, where production starts in Thailand and assembly occurs in the U.S., creating local jobs and aligning with American economic priorities.

The delegation emphasized collaboration in key sectors—clean energy, agriculture, biotechnology, healthcare, and artificial intelligence (AI)—where Thailand’s skilled workforce and abundant resources complement U.S. innovation, fostering resilient and sustainable value chains. To address trade imbalances, Thailand is increasing imports of U.S. goods in agriculture, energy, and digital sectors, aiming for a more equitable economic relationship. Engagements with U.S. federal and state officials, as well as local chambers of commerce, highlighted the importance of subnational partnerships to drive local economic growth and ensure long-term collaboration.

Author: Panisa Suwanmatajarn, Managing Partner.

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