WTO cuts world merchandise trade forecasts for 2018 and 2019

27th September 2018

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

World trade growth is likely to be slower than previously thought in 2018 and 2019, although the direct economic effects of a trade war that has blown up this year have been modest so far, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Thursday.

The WTO forecast world trade in goods would grow by 3.9% this year, less than the 4.4% it forecast in April. Next year trade growth of 3.7% is expected, a cut from the WTO's previous forecast of 4.0%.

The WTO said in a statement that some of the downside risks it had warned of in April had now materialised. At the time, WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo warned that the robust recovery in global trade, after a decade in the doldrums, could be undermined by a tit-for-tat battle of trade restrictions.

"The direct economic effects of these measures have been modest to date but the uncertainty they generate may already be having an impact through reduced investment spending," the WTO statement said.

"While trade growth remains strong, this downgrade reflects the heightened tensions that we are seeing between major trading partners," the statement quoted Azevedo as saying.

"More than ever, it is critical for governments to work through their differences and show restraint. The WTO will continue to support those efforts and ensure that trade remains a driver of better living standards, growth and job creation around the globe.”

Since the WTO's previous forecast, US President Donald Trump has launched a trade war by imposing tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of imports from China, which has hit back with tariffs of its own, as well as taxing aluminium and steel imports from around the world to protect US jobs.

Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on virtually all Chinese goods if China does not back down.

Edited by Reuters

Comments

The functionality you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION