Thailand's exports likely to grow by 8-10%, economy by 4-5%

BANGKOK, June 22 (TNA) - The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) maintains its projection on the country's export and economic growth in 2018 at 8-10 per cent and 4-5 per cent respectively. TCC Chairman Kalin Sarasin told journalists of the updated forecast on June 21, expressing his confidence that the projected export and national economic growth rates this year should be met, as a latest trade war between the United States and China should not seriously affect Thai exports. Kalin explained that items of products imposed with stiff tariffs by both the US and the Chinese sides are not main Thai items of exports shipped to both of the major trading partners. Besides, the latest Sino-US trade war could become a good opportunity in which China's two-way trade with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), including Thailand, would increase. The TCC chairman assessed that the latest trade war between Washington and Beijing should not be prolonged and expanded in order to evade serious negative impacts on the recovering world economy. Meanwhile, Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. reported that the sale of automobiles in the country reached 401,264 units totally during the first five months of this year, a 18 per cent year-on-year increase, thanks to the recovering Thai economy, boosted mainly by the export and tourism sectors.(TNA)