It dates back to 1818 when bilateral relations between Thailand and the US were established. Besides, they have been diplomatic partners for years. According to the public opinion, 2012, it was traced that almost 60% of Thais were approved of the US leadership with 14% disapproving and 26% uncertain, under the Obama Administration. You will stun to know that in 2013, 7314 students of Thai origin were found being studying in the US, who represented 0.9% of the foreigners, pursuing higher education in the States. As a matter of fact, according to the Global Opinion Poll, 2014, over 73% of Thais shared favorable views about the US.
Moreover, Thailand is the first Asian nation to enter into a formal diplomatic agreement with the US. In May 1856, representative of President Franklin Pierce, Townsend Harris, modified the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation with King Mongkut representatives that granted Americans extraterritorial rights. An American missionary, acted as the translator of Harris was appointed the first United States consul by King Mongkut after receiving so many presents from the US.
Since World War II, both these countries developed a close relationship that is reflected in several treaties by the countries’ participation in the UN multilateral activities plus agreements. Of all, the major bilateral agreement has been the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, 1966 that facilitates the United States and the Thai companies’ economic access to each other’s markets while other crucial agreements focused on civil uses of atomic energy, investment guarantees, military and economic assistance, and sales of agricultural commodities.
In 2004, the US and Thailand negotiated on a free trade agreement that emphasized on the elimination of barriers to trade and investment between both the countries. Well, the negotiations were placed on hold following Thai parliament’s dissolution in February 2006. The new military government issued licenses, compulsory ones, for several anti-HIV drugs, thereby ending the FTA negotiations.
As for economic assistance that has been extended in different fields, including health, education, science and technology, family planning and rural development. Several assistance programs continued in the areas of the mutually defined importance, like health and HIV programming, trafficking in persons and refugee assistance. The US Peace Corps in Thailand has approximately hundred volunteers who are focused on primary education with an integrated program that involves teacher training, environmental education, and health education.
Coming to the trading scenario, the US is Thailand’s third biggest trading partner after Japan and China. In the year 2006, the merchandise imports that came from Thailand summed up to US$22.5 billion, whereas the merchandise exports totaled US$8.2 billion.
