The Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) which entered into force on 1 January 2005, has transformed economic relations between the two countries while providing significant market access for Australian goods and services in Thailand.
The Agreement laid the foundation for deeper economic integration delivering faster trade growth since its entry into force. Australian exports have progressively enjoyed tariff and quota-free access, unlocking opportunities in high-demand sectors such as Agriculture - meat, dairy, processed foods and beverages, and in resources - metals and mining.
In 2025, all tariffs and tariff-rate quotas were eliminated, making TAFTA one of Australia's most utilised trade agreements.
Beyond goods, the agreement has accelerated trade in services and foreign investment opportunities for Australian businesses. The Agreement also provides access to priority services sectors in the Thai market.
Thailand is also party to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) further strengthening our economic partnership.
Key outcomes and benefits
- Tariff Elimination: All tariffs and quota barriers on imports from Australia have been removed making it more cost-effective to trade.
- Services: Thailand has made market access commitments in a range of sectors such as mining, distribution, construction, management consulting, hospitality and education.
- Investment Protection: A guaranteed range of rights for Australian direct investors including the right to transfer funds out at any time and the right to seek impartial resolution of disputes with Thai authorities.
- Mobility: Enhanced certainty on entry and length of stay for business people, including streamlined visa and work permits for Australians through reduced paperwork, access to a one-stop visa and work permit service, and extension of the maximum length of stay.
Helpful links
- FTA Portal – Access the latest information about Australia's in-force Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). This user-friendly site helps you compare agreements including tariffs, Harmonised System Codes (HS Codes), rules of origin requirements, and services commitments and find the best fit for your business needs.
- Australian Border Force – Find details on customs, import requirements, advance rulings and customs duties.
- Austrade – Explore export opportunities and support for Australian exporters.
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – For market access issues for agricultural products including biosecurity and implementing policies for agricultural traceability.
Contact us
For more information, please email: fta@dfat.gov.au.