WTO forecasts rebound in global trade but keeps geopolitical risks in focus

Container ships from international trunk lines, including those from Europe, Africa, India, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia, are loading and unloading containers at the container terminal of the Qianwan Port Area of Qingdao Port in Qingdao, China, on April 4, 2024. The World Trade Organization on Wednesday said that it expects global trade to rebound gradually this year, before rising further in 2025, as the impacts of higher inflation fall into the rearview mirror. In its latest “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics” report, the WTO forecast that total global trade volumes will increase by 2.6% in 2024, and by a further…