Junta will stick to 2019 date for general election, Prawit says. There will be no delays to a general election planned in Thailand for 2019, the deputy prime minister said on Wednesday, amid the concerns of government critics and the opposition that it could be pushed back. (Reuters, 03/10/18)

Cabinet gives the nod to restructure farmers’ debt. The Cabinet yesterday approved the rehabilitation of Bt6.3 billion in loans extended to 36,605 farmers, who are members of the Reconstruction and Development Fund (RDF), by the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Nattaporn Jatusripitak, spokesperson attached to the deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs, said after a Cabinet meeting yesterday. (The Nation, 03/10/18)

Inflation at 1.33% in September. Inflation ran at 1.33% year-on-year in September, rising for the 15th consecutive month, on rising oil prices. This year’s inflation was now projected at 1.25%, the Commerce Ministry announced. (Bangkok Post, 1/10/18)

Counter Service VAT refund agent for foreign tourists. The Revenue Department has chosen Counter Service Co as its agent for value-added tax refunds for departing foreign tourists from Oct (Bangkok Post, 1/10/18)

EEC committee gives nods to bidding for four infra projects. Members of the The Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee yesterday approved a plan to open bidding for four infrastructure projects worth Bt430bn at the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). (The Nation, 05/10/18)

Central bank imposes mortgage curbs. The Bank of Thailand, concerned about the number of property loans going bad, said on Thursday it will require buyers of homes worth more than Bt10mn and of second homes to make down payments of at least 20%. (Bangkok Post, 4/10/18)

China to cut import tariffs on wide range of products. China will cut import tariffs on textile products and metals, including steel products, to 8.4% from 11.5%, effective Nov. 1, the finance ministry said on Sunday. (Reuters, 30/09/18) China widens income tax exemption for foreign investors. China has widened income tax exemption on re-invested profits for foreign firms, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday, to try to boost foreign investment amid trade tensions. (Reuters, 30/09/18)

Fed’s Powell sees ‘remarkably positive outlook’ for economy that may be ‘too good to be true’. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell cited a “remarkably positive outlook” for a U.S. economy enjoying both low unemployment and inflation. A reporter asked Powell after last week’s Fed meeting whether the outlook was “too good to be true,” and he said it was “a reasonable question.” (CNBC, 03/10/18)

US, Mexico, Canada agree on new free trade pact. Negotiators from Canada and the United States went down to the wire but were able to reach an agreement on a new free trade pact that will include Mexico, the governments announced late on Sunday night. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) updates and replaces the nearly 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which President Donald Trump had labeled a disaster and promised to cancel. (AFP, 01/10/18)

Paris set to triumph as Europe’s post-Brexit trading hub. Paris is emerging as the favored financial trading hub for continental Europe, as some of the world’s biggest banks and asset managers prepare for life after Brexit by steering their EU operations away from London to the French capital. (Financial Times, 01/10/18)