Thailand seizes full control of export origin certificates to shield trade with U.S.
BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) has stepped up efforts to regulate the issuance and verification of certificates of origin, aiming to strengthen the country’s position in trade negotiations with the United States amid ongoing global trade tensions.
Arada Fuangtong, Director-General of the DFT, announced that the department will become the sole issuing authority for Form C/O (Certificate of Origin) for exports to the U.S. The agency is also updating its watchlist of sensitive products from 49 to 65 items, with enforcement expected by July.
The department has intensified origin audits in cooperation with local industries and provincial commerce offices. Random inspections of manufacturers will be carried out to prevent origin fraud, especially under frameworks such as ASEAN (AWSC), RCEP, the EU’s REX system, and other regional trade agreements. These inspections are scheduled for August–September.
To improve efficiency, the DFT has implemented ROVERs PLUS, a paperless system for verifying product origin, integrated with government digital platforms. The department is also developing an AI-powered e-Trade Remedy platform to streamline safeguard investigations and enhance responsiveness.
Additionally, the DFT has partnered with private sector organizations to host five rounds of training and seminars for exporters, industry chambers, and academic institutions between May and June. The goal is to improve understanding of origin rules and trade remedy measures ahead of the full launch of the new systems.
Director-General Arada emphasized that these efforts are critical to ensuring trade negotiations with the U.S. move forward while protecting Thailand’s economic interests. (TNA)
