Laos [Shutterstock]

U.S. Relationship

Patuxai (Patuxay) at twilight in Vientiane, Laos.
Patuxai (Patuxay) at twilight in Vientiane, Laos.

U.S.-Laos Relations

The U.S. established full diplomatic relations with Laos in 1955, following its full independence from France in 1954. Within a few years, Laos entered into civil war, and the U.S. supported the country’s royal government. For nearly a decade beginning in 1964, Laos was subjected to heavy U.S. bombing as part of the wider war in Indochina. Following the change
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Patuxai (Patuxay) at twilight in Vientiane, Laos.

U.S. Assistance to Laos

Though still under one-party communist rule, Laos’ economy is now essentially a free market system building upon the 1986 introduction of economic reforms. The overarching policy goals for U.S. assistance to Laos are to help the country meet its development goals, improve governance and the rule of law, and increase its capacity to integrate fully within the Association for Southeast
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Patuxai (Patuxay) at twilight in Vientiane, Laos.

Bilateral Economic Relations

U.S. exports to Laos include metals, aircraft, vehicles, and agricultural products. U.S. imports from Laos include apparel, inorganic chemicals, agricultural products, and precious metals. Laos acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013 and is part of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Both of these organizations have required—and will continue to spur—trade and regulatory reforms, which should make the
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Integrated Country Strategies

The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy.

Investment Climate Statements

The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates.

Fiscal Transparency Report

The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability.

The U.S. delivers COVID vaccines to Laos.

COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries

Since July, 2021 the United States has donated 3,059,640 safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Laos. This includes 2,051,640 Pfizer and 1,008,000 J&J doses. Of the 3,059,640 vaccine doses, 100% were donated in partnership with COVAX.

The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.

U.S. Department of State

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