Thailand and US hail trade relations, but piracy clouds talks

BANGKOK (AFP) — Thailand and the United States vowed Monday to boost trade relations after a return to democracy in the kingdom last year, but a dispute over intellectual property rights hung over the talks.

The United States is Thailand's top trading partner, but a coup in September 2006 prompted the US to halt discussions on a bilateral free trade agreement.

Christopher Padilla, the US under secretary for international trade who was in Bangkok for the 175th anniversary of US-Thai relations, hailed elections last December as "a welcome milestone."

"America stands with your freely elected government. America looks to invigorate and deepen our economic ties. American business is back and here to stay," he told a business gathering.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej assured assembled US business leaders that his new government was trying to improve the investment climate, and said it had no plans to put restrictions ...