Post-Coup Sanctions and Thailand's Agricultural Trade: Insights from a Comprehensive Study

Strategic Insights -

A new study from Louisiana State University has shed light on the economic implications of non-trade sanctions on international trade, focusing on Thailand's agricultural exports. The research, published in The World Economy, found that non-trade sanctions imposed by the United States on Thailand in 2014 resulted in a 20% decline in the aggregate exports of Thailand's agricultural products. The study used a comprehensive panel dataset of over 27.7 million exporter-importer-product-year observations from 2001 to 2019, providing valuable insights into the intersection of trade and geopolitics.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that non-trade sanctions imposed by the US on Thailand in 2014 resulted in a 20% decline in the aggregate exports of Thailand's agricultural products.
  • The declines were most pronounced in fish and processed vegetables, while rice, Thailand's primary agricultural export, remained unaffected.
  • The study used a comprehensive panel dataset of over 27.7 million exporter-importer-product-year observations from 2001 to 2019.
  • The research concluded that the US sanctions had a significant impact on Thailand's agricultural trade, while the EU sanctions had no impact.
  • The study's findings highlight the complexities of trade and geopolitics, and the need for further research in this area.
  • The research provides valuable insights for policymakers and businesses operating in the agricultural trade sector.
  • The study's results suggest that non-trade sanctions can have significant economic implications for countries, particularly those with significant agricultural exports.

Statistics:

  • 20% decline in the aggregate exports of Thailand's agricultural products due to US sanctions.
  • 27.7 million exporter-importer-product-year observations used in the study's comprehensive panel dataset.
  • 2001-2019 time period covered by the study's dataset.
  • 20% decline most pronounced in fish and processed vegetables.
  • Rice, Thailand's primary agricultural export, remained unaffected by the sanctions.
  • US sanctions had a significant impact on Thailand's agricultural trade, while EU sanctions had no impact.

Sources:

  • Post-coup Sanctions and Thailand's Agricultural Trade. The World Economy, 2025.
  • NewsRx. Findings from Louisiana State University Update Understanding of Agriculture (Post-coup Sanctions and Thailand's Agricultural Trade). Agriculture Week. July 31, 2025; p 415.