Thailand and the European Union have concluded eight more negotiating items in their latest free trade agreement (FTA) talks, a key step toward finalising the long-awaited pact, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said.
The 9th round of the negotiations took place from June 22-30 in Brussels.
Ms Suphajee said four more chapters covering competition and subsidies, state-owned enterprises, dispute settlement and institutional provisions governing implementation of the agreement have been concluded.
She said three annexes and one protocol covering export-related duties, import and export monopolies, automotive standards under technical barriers to trade and mutual customs assistance were also finalised.
In total, 15 of the agreement's 24 chapters, and related annexes, representing about two-thirds of the FTA, have been concluded, she noted.
Ms Suphajee said several remaining issues, including anti-fraud measures, are close to conclusion, and negotiations on market access for goods, services, investment, and government procurement are also advancing.
She said the talks are entering their final stretch with the remaining issues including agriculture, industrial goods, government procurement, energy and raw materials, digital trade, services and investment and legal and regulatory matters, including intellectual property.
Citing information from the chief of the Thai negotiation team, she said the progress was driven by political support following high-level meetings in Brussels on June 24 between Thai and European officials who reaffirmed their commitment to concluding the Thai-EU FTA as soon as possible.
Ms Suphajee said the ministry's working committee would convene a meeting to address remaining issues with relevant agencies before the 10th round of negotiation scheduled to take place in late September in Thailand.
The EU was Thailand's fourth-largest trading partner in 2025, after China, the United States and Japan. Bilateral trade totalled US$45.03 billion (1.57 trillion baht), up 3.44% from the previous year.
Thailand recorded a trade surplus of $7.86 billion with the bloc.
