In 2025, Thailand-U.S. trade surpassed $110 billion, highlighting strong ties but exposing trade barriers. Key issues include automotive standards, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural access as both countries negotiate a trade agreement.

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Key Points

• Trade between Thailand and the U.S. exceeded $110 billion in 2025, reflecting strong economic ties.
• Key trade barriers of concern for Washington include U.S. automotive standards, approval for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and increased access for American agricultural products.
• Ongoing negotiations aim for a reciprocal trade agreement, emphasizing the removal of non-tariff barriers in prioritized sectors.

Economic Growth in Trade Relations

Trade between Thailand and the United States escalated past US$110 billion in 2025, demonstrating the deepening economic relationships between the two nations. However, this impressive trade figure conceals a myriad of trade barriers that the U.S. government is pressing Thailand to resolve. Key areas of concern highlighted by Washington include the recognition of U.S. automotive standards, expedited approval processes for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and broader access for American agricultural products in the Thai market. Despite the optimistic trade figures, these unresolved issues pose significant challenges in the bilateral trade landscape.

Ongoing Negotiations and Commitments

The latest report from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) emphasizes the dual nature of the trade relationship, revealing both the opportunities for growth and the challenges that must be navigated. As discussions continue, the focus remains on establishing a reciprocal trade agreement that aims to promote broader trade liberalization. Following a joint statement issued by both parties in October 2025, Thailand has made several commitments to address U.S. concerns. Among these, the foremost commitment prioritized by the U.S. is the elimination of non-tariff barriers in key sectors such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The evolving trade landscape between Thailand and the U.S. signifies a crucial partnership that holds the potential to enhance economic growth for both nations. However, the realization of this potential depends on Thailand’s willingness to address and resolve the trade barriers highlighted by the U.S. The commitment to eliminate non-tariff barriers is a vital step toward creating a more favorable trade environment. As both countries work together to finalize agreements and strengthen their relationship, they will pave the way for a future marked by increased trade efficiency and mutual benefits.

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A Perth company founded by a 24-year-old and already famed for its ability to print an entire boat hull in a day will turn its attention to housing, with the first-ever 3D printed home from entirely recycled plastic in the southern hemisphere.

Hyperion Systems revealed today it inked a deal with Fremantle-based residential property builder Little Castles Small Homes for the construction of the first modular 3D printed tiny home built out of entirely recycled plastic.

The home will be built using Hyperion Systems‘ TitanCell mobile 3D printing unit, which is housed inside either a 20-foot or 40-foot shipping container, and can be deployed in under 24 hours, print up to 30 kilograms per hours.

Capable of 3D printing parts up to 10-metres in length and dubbed a ‘factory-in-a-box’, the self-contained, industrial scale 3D printing unit is transportable and can be immediately operated on-site or managed remotely.

The technology combines custom-built hardware with proprietary software and pellet-based plastic feedstock – either new or recycled – and offers integrated machining capabilities, allowing parts to go from design to final product in a single setup.

In this particular case, the feedstock will be entirely recycled plastic.

Hyperion Systems founder and chief executive Joshua Wigley, who started the company at just 24, said the contract represented a major milestone in sustainable construction and advanced manufacturing in Australia.

Now 28-years-old, Mr Wigley said core components for the tiny homes will be manufactured in modular sections at Hyperion’s facility in Henderson, before the final fit-out and completio nby Little Castles on-site.

“We will be using recylced polymers as our base feedstock and through the intellectual property we have developed in-house we will be able to print the core structure for a tiny home in around 48 hours,” he said.

The entirely recycled polymer build will be termite resistent and have beneficial thermodynamic properties.

“This build will mark the first 3D printed polymer house in the Southern Hemisphere, positioning Western Australia at the forefront of innovative, sustainable housing solutions,” Mr Wigley said.

“This project represents a breakthrough in how we think about construction. By using recycled plastics and advanced manufacturing techniques, we are not only reducing material waste but also significantly improving production speed and labour efficiency.”

Hyperion must meet all relevant Australian building codes as part of the contract, ensuring safety, durability and compliance while advancing circular economy principles.

It’s those codes, practices and norms Mr Wigley hopes to not only satisfy, but surpass.

“By accelerating build times and freeing up skilled labour to focus on more traditional home builds, the technology offers a pathway to delivering more housing at scale,” he said.

Little Castles Small Homes director Mark Hughes said he was excited to the involved in the first residential use of Hyperion’s technology.

“We’re not juts building a tiny home differently; we’re shaping how homes should be built into the future,” he said.

“More sustainable, more considered, and making better use of what we already. It’s about creating spaces and proving that smaller homes can still deliver a higher standard of living.”

The contract with Little Castles is the latest in a string of wins for Hyperion and Mr Wigley, who was last year named Young Innovator of the Year at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exhibition’s pitch fest and awards.

Adding to the $40,000 won from that award, in July, Hyperion was awarded some $385,000 in a matched funding grant through the federal government’s innovation growth program, aimed at helping to commercialise its technology.

Since its 2022 inception, the company has 3D printed Australia’s first boat hull, a 3-metre vessel completed in just 36 hours; built the country’s largest 3D printed structure – a public artwork at Kalgoorlie TAFE; installed a robotic 3D print system for design students at Griffith University; and secured a Henderson warehouse to position itself alongside defence and subsea businesses within the Australian Marine Complex.

The company has already secured backing from Perth businessman David Budge, who co-founded 3D metal printing firm Aurora Labs Ltd, and is now the Hyperion’s chief technology officer.

Seasoned chief executive and entrepreneur Tim Dean, founder of Credi, has taken the role of commercial lead at Hyperion.

Perhaps one of its biggest wins yet was its technology’s marriage with another WA upshoot, maritime autonomy software and hardware developer Greenroom Robotics.

The pair agreed to collaborate to create and test 3D-printed unmanned surface vehicles for naval use.

The boats would be designed and manfuctured by Hyperion, with Greenroom integrating its GAMA software solution to the final vessel to make it autonomous.

Hyperion is also partnering with the University of Western Australia to focus on transforming decommissioned subsea plastics from oil and gas infrastructure into high-quality pellets for feedstock.

Japan’s Nikkei share average rose on Tuesday as optimism grew from reports that Tehran is considering attending peace talks with Washington in Pakistan, lifting risk appetite and prompting investors to buy domestic heavyweight technology stocks.

The Nikkei was up 1.07% at 59,453.44, as of 0147 GMT, while the broader Topix inched ‌0.14% higher ⁠to 3,782,43.

An uneasy ⁠ceasefire between the United States and Iran frayed after the U.S. announced the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship, drawing vows of retaliation from Tehran. Iran said over the weekend it would skip a second round of negotiations, though a senior official later told Reuters the country may yet send delegates to talks expected in Islamabad.

In Japan, chip-related shares climbed, ⁠with Tokyo ‌Electron and Advantest up 4.3% and 1.79%, respectively.

Kioxia Holdings jumped 5.3% and technology investor SoftBank Group gained 4.23%.

“The market might ⁠be too optimistic about the aftermath of the war. There is a concern about the impact of the disruption of the supply chain,” said Takamasa Ikeda, senior portfolio manager at GCI Asset Management.
“There may be a big correction of the stock market in the summer if the impact of the supply shortage surfaces.” Ikeda noted that tightened supply of helium, a key component in cable productions, ‌could weigh on Japan’s high-performing fibre optic cable makers, including Fujikura and Furukawa Electric.

Fujikura rose 5% on Tuesday, while Furukawa gained 3.5%.

In other stock movements, ⁠Nojima surged 10.2% following reports that the electronics retailer plans to acquire Hitachi’s consumer appliances unit, Hitachi Global Life Solutions, for more than 100 billion yen ($630.32 million).

Hitachi shares edged 0.3% higher.

Banking shares declined, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group down 0.26% and 1%, respectively.

Toyota Motor lost 2% in early trade.

Of the more than 1,600 stocks traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange‘s prime market, 39% rose, 56% declined and 4% remained unchanged.

Oil prices slipped on Tuesday, giving up part of the previous session’s sharp gains, as hopes of upcoming peace talks between the U.S. and Iran raised expectations of improved supply from the Middle East.

Despite lingering tensions, market participants are now focusing on the possibility that talks this week could extend the current ceasefire or even lead to a broader agreement. However, risks of renewed conflict and supply disruptions remain.

Crude oil price on April 21

Brent crude futures fell 95 cents, or 1%, to $94.53 at 0003 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for May dropped $1.54, or 1.72%, to $88.07. The May contract expires on Tuesday, while the more actively traded June contract declined $1.09, or 1.3%, to $86.37. A senior Iranian official indicated that Tehran is considering joining peace talks in Pakistan, following diplomatic efforts by Islamabad to ease the U.S. blockade, a news report by Reuters stated.

On Saturday, Iran tightened its grip over the strait in response to the U.S. blockade, reportedly firing at several vessels and declaring the route closed. The blockade has emerged as a key obstacle to Tehran’s return to peace negotiations, with the current two-week ceasefire due to end later this week.

Where are prices headed?

Market movements remain highly reactive to developments, with oil prices swinging on shifting signals from both sides rather than any clear improvement in supply conditions. The intermittent movement of vessels through the strait highlights the deep uncertainty surrounding the world’s most critical energy chokepoint. Even if tensions ease, a full recovery in oil flows is expected to take several months, experts warn.Macquarie noted that even if tensions ease, oil prices are likely to stay supported in the $85 to $90 range, with a gradual climb towards $110 as flows through the strait normalize. It also warned that if disruptions persist through April, Brent could spike to as much as $150 per barrel.

Analysts generally believe the market may be entering a phase of structurally higher prices. With the ceasefire seen as temporary, a return to pre-conflict levels of $70 to $75 could take time. In the near term, prices are expected to move within a band of $80 to $85 on the downside and $95 to $100 on the upside.

Nuvama Institutional Equities added that an extended closure of the strait, which handles roughly 20 million barrels per day, could drive crude prices into the $110 to $150 range.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Apple will see a shake-up in its management positions as Tim Cook is now stepping down as the CEO of the company and will serve as the executive chairman of the board of directors.

With this, Apple also announced that it has already named its next chief executive officer, with John Ternus, the company’s current senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, set to replace Cook.

Tim Cook to Become Apple’s Executive Chairman

In a new Apple Newsroom post, the Cupertino tech giant has confirmed that Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple’s CEO, which will take effect on September 1, 2026. However, Cook will not stray away from Apple just yet as it was revealed that he will be tasked to serve as Apple’s executive chairman for the company’s board of directors.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” said Cook.

It was noted by Apple that as the executive chairman, Cook will have a limited role here. The company revealed that his responsibilities under this role will only revolve around “certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.”

This means that Cook’s main responsibility will be to work with government officials as the executive chairman.

9to5Mac noted that Cook previously faced scrutiny with his affiliations with the Trump administration, especially when he was invited to the White House and appeared in the “Melania” documentary.

Cook is also known for his close ties to China, having already established rapport with the country during his long tenure as CEO.

John Ternus Is the Next Apple CEO

With this announcement, Apple has also named the next chief executive officer of the company to replace Cook, and it is none other than Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus.

According to Apple, Ternus will bring in his 25 years of experience under the company to his new CEO role. The engineer-slash-executive has worked under Steve Jobs and was mentored by Tim Cook. Now, he gets the chance to lead a new age for Apple.

Come September 1, Tim Cook will have served 15 years as Apple’s CEO since being appointed as its chief after co-founder Steve Jobs stepped down.

Originally published on Tech Times