Import from Thailand to the USA, Australia and Canada (2026 Guide)
If you sell into more than one English-speaking market, Thailand is one of the few sourcing bases that can serve all three from a single factory relationship - provided you understand that the duty and compliance rules are completely different in each.
Duty and trade-agreement position at a glance
| Market | Agreement with Thailand | Typical duty outcome | Origin document |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | None (no FTA) | MFN rate applies, commonly 0-6.5% depending on HS code | Commercial invoice statement; no preferential CO |
| Australia | TAFTA + RCEP | 0% on most qualifying industrial lines | TAFTA or RCEP certificate of origin |
| Canada | No bilateral FTA | MFN rate applies, many lines 0-8.5% | Certificate of Origin / statement of origin |
The headline: Australia is the only one of the three with a preferential agreement with Thailand. For the USA and Canada you plan around the MFN tariff, not around FTA relief - which is why HS classification matters more than paperwork gymnastics.
What that means commercially
- USA: Thailand is attractive mainly because it sits outside China Section 301 duties. The saving is a tariff-avoidance saving, not an FTA saving.
- Australia: TAFTA can make Thailand landed-cost cheaper than China even when FOB is higher. Always price with the CO in hand.
- Canada: the duty picture is usually neutral, so Thailand wins on quality, capacity diversification and shorter reorder cycles rather than on duty.
Documentation you will need in every case
- Commercial invoice with correct HS code and country of origin
- Packing list with carton-level detail
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin (mandatory for Australian preference, useful everywhere)
- Product-specific certificates - FDA, CPSC, RCM, CSA, CFIA depending on category
Where importers get caught
- Assuming one certificate of origin works for all three markets. It does not - the Australian preferential CO has origin-criteria fields the US and Canada entries do not use.
- Assuming a factory that exports to the US already meets Australian RCM or Canadian CSA marking. Almost never true without asking.
- Ordering identical labels for all three markets. Labelling, language (Canada requires English and French on many consumer goods) and marking rules differ.
A practical three-market approach
- Classify the product once, then check the tariff line in all three jurisdictions
- Build one master spec, then a per-market annex for labels, marking and certification
- Consolidate production at one Thai factory but split shipments by market
- Keep one accountable counterparty so quality issues are resolved in one conversation
How TUSKO handles it
We source and audit Thai factories, hold the supplier relationship on your behalf, and prepare the per-market document pack - so a single production run can legally land in Los Angeles, Melbourne and Vancouver.
FAQ
Is there a free trade agreement between Thailand and the USA? No. There is no US-Thailand FTA in force in 2026. Thai goods enter the US at the MFN rate, which is zero or low for many industrial lines - the benefit versus China comes from avoiding Section 301 duties.
Does Canada have a trade agreement with Thailand? No bilateral FTA. Canada-ASEAN negotiations have been underway but nothing preferential is in force, so plan on MFN rates and check your specific tariff line.
Can one Thai factory serve US, Australian and Canadian orders? Yes, and most of our clients do exactly that. The production is the same; the differences sit in certification, labelling and customs paperwork per market.
Which market is cheapest to import into from Thailand? Australia usually, because TAFTA and RCEP remove duty on most qualifying lines. The US and Canada depend entirely on your HS code.
How long does ocean freight take? Roughly 3-5 weeks Laem Chabang to US West Coast, 2-3 weeks to Australian east and west coast ports, and 4-6 weeks to Vancouver or Montreal depending on routing.