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Thursday, March 19, 2026
World Trade Organization eyes sharp slowdown in global trade amid Mideast war
The Middle East war could weigh heavily on already slowing global trade, the World Trade Organization warns, saying merchandise trade volume growth could be as low as 1.4 percent this year, compared to 4.6 percent in 2025.
“Sustained increases in energy prices could increase risks for global trade, with potential spillovers for food security and cost pressures on consumers and businesses,” WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says in a statement.
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