ANN/THE NATION – Thailand’s rice export industry has raised concerns following the signing of a new trade agreement between the United States and Japan, which could see Thailand’s rice quota to Japan slashed by over two-thirds.

The agreement, finalised on July 22, involves Japan pledging to source a greater portion of its rice imports from the US under the existing World Trade Organisation (WTO) “minimum access” scheme.

This framework permits Japan to import roughly 770,000 tonnes of rice annually without tariffs. In the past, this quota was typically divided, with both Thailand and the US supplying around 300,000 tonnes each. The US reportedly secured the rice concession in exchange for reducing reciprocal tariffs on Japanese industrial goods, such as automobiles, from a proposed 25 per cent down to 15 per cent.

Japan appears to have accepted the rice concession to protect its highly competitive industrial exports.

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun announced that the Ministry was urgently negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Japan to lock in Thailand’s current 300,000-tonne quota.

This push comes in response to reports that Japan is required to increase rice imports from the US by 75 per cent, a move that would directly squeeze Thailand’s market share.

Honorary President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association Chykiat Opaswong told Thansettakij that securing the previous quota would be “difficult“.

“If the US demands 75 per cent of that 770,000-tonne quota, Thailand’s allocation could fall from 300,000 tonnes to less than 100,000 tonnes next year,” Chukiat stated.

He explained that Japan is obligated to honour its commitment to the US to protect its domestic manufacturing export capability.

Official figures show that Thai rice exports to Japan have already seen a sharp decline. In the first seven months, volume dropped by 19 per cent and value by 42 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.

Published Date: October 17, 2025