The World Trade Organisation said the trade in global goods trade will grow less than hoped this year and next as regional conflicts and the Ebola outbreak slow down economies.
A 3.1% year-on-year increase in trade in goods is expected in 2014, much less than the 4.7% the WTO forecast in April, said Reuters.
The WTO cited "weaker-than expected GDP growth and muted import demand in the first half".
Trade is expected to grow 4% in 2015 rather than the 5.3% previously forecast and down from the 20-year average of 5.2%.
WTO had expected stronger trade after a two-year slump, but it stagnated in early 2014 as import demand fell in EU and US - and Japanese had a big sales tax increase.
Trouble in the Ukraine, deep and widening Mideast conflicts and West Africa's Ebola outbreak darkened forecasts, the WTO said...
This has been excerpted from 3 October 2014 article by The Canadian Shipper.
Topic(s)
International Trade and Border Management
Information source
Canadian News Channel
International News Channel
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