Thai Fisheries Department Addresses U.S. Section 301 Trade Investigation

The Thai Department of Fisheries has issued a statement following a U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The USTR probe examined 60 major trading partners, focusing on the failure to effectively implement and enforce bans on imports produced using forced labor.

According to Thitiporn Laoprasert, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, the U.S. investigation does not allege forced labor within Thailand’s domestic production. Instead, the concern centers on Thailand’s current lack of specific legislation or measures to control the import of foreign goods produced through forced labor. The Department maintains that Thai seafood products are free from forced labor throughout the supply chain and remain competitive in the global market. While Thai tuna exports are considered robust, the shrimp sector faces more complex challenges.

For residents and travelers, this development highlights Thailand’s ongoing efforts to align its trade policies with international labor standards. While the investigation focuses on import regulations rather than domestic production, it underscores the importance of supply chain transparency in the Thai seafood industry. It remains to be confirmed how the Thai government will adjust its import control legislation to address these U.S. trade concerns and whether these policy shifts will impact the availability or pricing of imported seafood products in the local market.