On Thursday, June 11, from 9 am to 12 pm PT, the Pacific Council and the Consulate General of Thailand in Los Angeles are hosting a half-day forum examining the trade and investment landscape between the United States and Thailand. The program will open with keynote addresses by Consul General Tor Saralamba, Consul General of Thailand in Los Angeles, and Ambassador (ret.) Kristina Kvien, President & CEO, Pacific Council, touching on Thailand's economic prospects, followed by a panel discussion on emerging opportunities for bilateral trade and investment. The session will conclude with a networking lunch.

As tariff pressures and supply chain realignments continue to reshape the Asia-Pacific economic order, Thailand has emerged as a consequential partner for U.S. businesses and policymakers alike. This forum offers a timely opportunity to assess where the relationship stands, where it is headed, and what it means for investors, exporters, and regional strategists on both sides of the Pacific.

The link for registration is forthcoming.

Why it's important

• In 2025, the United States was Thailand's second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling more than $93 billion. Ongoing negotiations over the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade reflect both the scale of the relationship and the urgency of stabilizing it amid continued tariff volatility.
• Thailand is pursuing a dual-track strategy to maintain U.S. trade relations while actively diversifying its economic partnerships, a posture with significant implications for American companies seeking reliable footholds in Southeast Asia's shifting supply chain landscape.
• Representatives of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have projected that reciprocal tariffs will remain a defining feature of the global economy for the next two to three years, underscoring the need for businesses and policymakers to develop durable long-term strategies rather than anticipate a return to pre-tariff conditions.

Keynote Speaker

Consul General Tor Saralamba has served as Consul General of Thailand at the Royal Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles since 2021. With 28 years of diplomatic experience and a background in law from Chulalongkorn and Ramkhamhaeng Universities, he has built a distinguished career with Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including an earlier posting as Consul in Ho Chi Minh City.

In his current role, Consul-General Saralamba works to strengthen trade, investment, and cultural ties between Thailand and the United States. He has been an active voice for Thailand's economic opportunities, most recently promoting the country's National Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Strategy to American investors and industry leaders.

Beyond his diplomatic duties, he is deeply engaged with the Thai-American community in Southern California — championing Thai-American youth, supporting local cultural initiatives, and fostering goodwill across diverse communities in the region.

Keynote Speaker

Ambassador Kvien assumed the role of President and CEO of Pacific Council in March, 2026.

Previously, she spent over three decades as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State.  She retired as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor. From 2023-2026, she served as the tenth U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia.  From 2019-2022, she served as the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy Ukraine, leading the evacuation of the Embassy shortly before Russia’s further invasion in 2022 and return to the Embassy in May 2022. For her work in Ukraine, Ambassador Kvien received the Ryan C. Crocker Award for Outstanding Leadership in Expeditionary Diplomacy.

Ambassador Kvien has dedicated her career to deepening U.S. relations with Europe and Southeast Asia.  She served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy Paris; Acting Deputy Chief of Mission and Economic Counselor at U.S. Embassy Bangkok; Economic Counselor at U.S. Embassy London; and Director for European Union, Ukraine, and Belarus Affairs at the National Security Council in the Executive Office of the President. Ambassador Kvien earlier served at U.S. Embassy Moscow; the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels; U.S. Embassy Manila; and Washington DC, where she worked on European Union issues and bilateral relations with Slovenia.

Ambassador Kvien was born and raised in California, with a BA in Political Science from Occidental College and an MS in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.  Prior to joining the Foreign Service, she worked in the Sales Presentation Department at the Los Angeles Times.

 

The link for registration is forthcoming.