Global merchandise trade volume is estimated to have contracted 14 per cent in the first half of 2020, and may see an overall 13 per cent decline in 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said.
The global body’s Goods Trade Barometer (GTB) on Wednesday confirmed trade volumes had crumbled steeply in H1 but hinted at a nascent recovery.
The GTB provides real-time information on the trajectory of world trade relative to recent trends. Its latest estimates showed a reading of 87.6, up from 84.5 seen in May but still lower than 95.5 seen in February.
A reading of 100 indicates growth in line