BANGKOK: Thailand's central bank cut its key interest rate by a quarter point for a second consecutive meeting on Wednesday, in a move to support an underperforming economy facing uncertainty over steep U.S. tariffs.
The Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee voted 5-2 to reduce the one-day repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 1.75%, the lowest level in two years. That followed a similar reduction at the previous meeting in February.
The central bank on Wednesday cut its growth forecast for 2025 to 2.0%, down from just above 2.5% seen in February and 2.9% predicted in December.
It said there were downside risks to growth and U.S. trade tariffs could weigh in the second half of the year, and if the trade war escalated then growth could be just 1.3% this year.
Growth next year was seen at 1.8% in the central bank's "reference" scenario and 1% in its worst-case scenario.
"The U.S. trade policies and potential retaliations from major economies will cause significant changes in the global economic, financial, and trade landscape," it said in a statement.
"This process is only beginning and subject to high uncertainties, with the global economy likely to grow at a slower pace. The situation is expected to be prolonged."
Thailand is among Southeast Asian nations hardest hit by U.S. President Donald Trump's measures, facing a much larger-than-expected 36% tariff if a reduction can't be negotiated before a global moratorium expires in July.
Southeast Asia's second-largest economy has lagged regional peers for years, growing just 2.5% last year.
INFLATION, TOURISM FORECASTS LOWERED
Twenty of 28 economists in a Reuters poll had predicted the key rate would be cut this week. The other eight had expected no policy change.
The central bank said it was ready to adjust interest rates as appropriate and would closely monitor the baht currency. The baht was little changed after the rate decision.
The BOT lowered its 2025 headline inflation forecast to 0.5%, down from 1.1% seen in December and below its target range of 1% to 3%. It predicted core inflation at 0.9% this year versus 1.0% seen earlier.
The central bank reduced its projections for foreign tourist arrivals to 37.5 million this year, from 39.5 million seen in December.
"We think today's easing will be the last for the foreseeable future as the MPC (monetary policy committee) likely will adopt a wait-and-see approach with regards to the lingering tariff uncertainty," said Miguel Chanco, an economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. - Reuters
