The strengthening of the US dollar relative to other major currencies starting in 1995 and China’s rapid emergence into the world market also weakened Thailand’s competitiveness. In 1996, exports declined by about 1.3% compared with over 20% growth in both 1994 and 1995. The weakened fundamental led to pressures on the baht and market perception was that the baht needed to be devalued, and speculators attacked the baht in various had waves. What made matters worse was that the bank of Thailand (BOT) tried to stubbornly defend the value of the baht. By the end of June 1997 almost all of the country’s reserves had been used to try to defend the value of the baht and official foreign reserves net of committed forward obligations declined to only about $US2.8 billion. The country basically became insolvent as there was still about $US48.5 billion in short-term foreign debt and the current account deficit was about $US1 billion per month. Thailand simply did not have enough foreign assets to service these obligations. As a result, the baht had to be floated on July 2, 1997, and Thailand had to seek assistance from the IMF.