Pad Thai, motherhood and Chevrolet

The United States produces the most trucks. Which nation is second?

Canada. Nope.

Mexico. Nope.

Japan. Nope.

If you guessed Thailand, you’re right.

A free trade agreement being negotiated between the United States and Thailand could place the Asian nation alongside Japan, Korea and China as a major threat to U.S. automakers and American manufacturing jobs, officials say.

Thailand is the second-largest producer of pickup trucks in the world. The United States currently has a 25 percent tariff on all imported light trucks.

If the tariff were removed on vehicles exported to the United States from Thailand, Japanese and other automakers with assembly plants there could compete much more effectively for American truck buyers.

Source: The Detroit News

General Motors and Ford both build trucks in Thailand, though most produced there are by Japanese companies.