High-speed airport rail headed to Rayong. The committee for special economic zone development in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme has approved a 30-km extension of the high-speed railway that will connect three airports to Rayong province, for an estimated Bt10bn expenditure. (Bangkok Post, 04/08/18)

Ad spending on digital TV up 13% YoY. Advertising spending on digital TV came in at Bt5.98bn in July, down Bt360mn MoM but up Bt692mn YoY. (The Nation, 8/8/18

BoT holds key rate as it keeps watch on volatile baht. Thailand’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged near a record low as expected, and said it is closely monitoring the baht’s volatility and its impact on the economy. (Bloomberg, 08/08/18)

ADVANC and DTAC join the bidding. ADVANC and DTAC are having subsidiaries AWN and DTN participate in the 1800MHz spectrum auction but not 900MHz. ADVANC explained it has sufficient spectrum to service its customers. DTAC explained it is wary of the condition that the 900 MHz winner must set up a radio interference protection system. The NBTC will ask the board to adjust the condition for the 900MHz auction after the 1800MHz auction on Aug 19. (Kao Hoon, 9/8/18)

Northern double-track railway to Mekong to open in 2023. Construction of the 323km double-track railway from Den Chai in Phrae to Chiang Khong on the Mekong River border will be accelerated so it can enter service two years earlier, the transport minister announced on Thursday. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the Bt85bn project was part of the ministry’s 2015-2022 transport infrastructure development plan. It was approved by the cabinet on July 31. (Bangkok Post, 09/08/18)

China says it will retaliate with tariffs on $60 billion in US goods. China is preparing to retaliate in the escalating trade war with tariffs on about $60 billion worth of U.S. goods. The import taxes would range in rates from 5 percent to 25 percent, the Chinese government said. “Any unilateral threat or blackmail will only lead to intensification of conflicts and damage to the interests of all parties,” China’s statement said.  (CNBC, 03/08/18)

Renewed U.S. sanctions target Iran’s economy, Tehran cool on talks. President Donald Trump’s top security adviser on Monday urged Iran to take up an offer of talks with the United States or suffer more pain from economic sanctions, but Iran’s president said Washington needed first to prove it can be trusted. (Reuters, 07/08/18)

China July FX reserves rise to US$3.12trn despite trade tensions. China’s foreign exchange reserves unexpectedly rose in July even as worries over escalating trade tensions between the United States and China have caused market volatility. Reserves rose US$5.82bn in July to US$3.12trn, compared with a rise of US$1.51bn in June, central bank data showed on Tuesday. (Reuters, 07/08/18)

China Imports Jump, Exports Robust as Trade War Yet to Take Toll. China’s exports grew faster than expected, while imports surged, showing both domestic and international demand continue to shrug off the uncertainty of the trade conflict with the U.S. Exports rose 12.2% in July in dollar terms from a year earlier, the customs administration said Wednesday, faster than the forecast 10%. Imports climbed 27.3%, leaving a trade surplus of $28 billion. (Bloomberg, 08/08/18)

China hits back at US with new tariffs. China is slapping additional tariffs of 25% on US$16bn worth of US imports from fuel and steel products to autos and medical equipment, the Chinese commerce ministry said, as the world’s largest economies escalated their trade dispute. (Reuters, 08/08/18)