SINGAPORE – Thai Airways International has no plans to resume direct flights to the United States, despite the US upgrading Thailand’s air safety rating this year to permit them, CEO Chai Eamsiri said on Wednesday.

Thailand’s revised proposal to reduce import tariffs on thousands of US products is likely to be viewed favourably by the US, says finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.

The proposed 36% tariff on US imports of Thai products could pile pressure on the manufacturing sector, with workers likely to bear the brunt, says the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai).

The cabinet on Tuesday approved a plan to cap all train fares in Greater Bangkok at 20 baht from Oct 1 to help commuters reduce travel costs and entice drivers to switch to mass transit.

Thailand is moving ahead quickly with new restrictions on cannabis use, with health officials announcing a plan to transform all cannabis dispensaries into medical clinics with resident doctors and standardised prescriptions.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index could fall below 1,000 points and the country’s GDP growth to less than 1% if the Thai negotiating team led by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira cannot convince the US to lower its reciprocal tariff from 36%, analysts said on Tuesday.