In March 2023, the EU and Thailand agreed to relaunch negotiations for an ambitious, modern and balanced free trade agreement (FTA), with sustainability at its core.

This confirms the key importance of the Indo-Pacific region for the EU trade agenda, paving the way for deeper trade ties with the second largest economy in South-East Asia and further strengthening the EU’s strategic engagement with this fast-growing region.

The aim of the FTA will be to boost trade and investment by addressing a wide range of issues such as: market access for goods, services, investment and government procurement; swift and effective sanitary and phyto-sanitary procedures; the protection of intellectual property rights including geographical indications; and the removal of obstacles to digital trade and trade in energy and raw materials, thereby supporting the digital and green transitions. Sustainability will also be at the heart of this agreement, with robust and enforceable disciplines on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD). These will be in line with the Commission’s TSD Review Communication of June 2022, supporting high levels of protection for workers’ rights, for the environment, and the achievement of ambitious climate goals.

The 1^st round of negotiations took place from 18 to 22 September 2023 in Brussels.