On March 24, US-Thailand Business Council with Washington International Trade Association (WITA) and Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise (KIPE) co-hosted a reception titled “US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement: Why it Matters” featuring H.E. Wattana Muangsook, Commerce Minister of Thailand along with other speakers, Mr. Ralph Ives, Assistant USTR, Asia Pacific and APEC Affairs, and Mr. Roberto Matus, Economic Counselor, Chilean Embassy, US-Chilean FTA negotiator at the Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, DC

Mr. Ives, Chief Negotiator on the FTA for the US spoke about the FTA benefits to the US private sector and Mr. Roberto Matus provide the Chilean perspective on critical steps in securing a bilateral FTA.

Minister Wattana led the Thai FTA delegation to Washington, DC to officially launch the US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement negotiation with the US.  The US and Thailand will formally begin negotiations on FTA in late June.  Minister Wattana was accompanied by former Thai Ambassador to the US, Ambassador Nitya Pibulsonggram, Chief Trade Negotiator for Thailand FTA, among others.

After the reception, US-Thailand Business Council co-hosted with Heritage Foundation a private dinner in honor of Minister Wattana and the senior members of his delegation with other prominent US government officials and US private sector businesses.