DHAKA: The World Trade Organization (WTO) has cut its forecast for global trade growth this year by more than a third.

The new figure of 1.7%, down from its April estimate of 2.8%, would be the slowest pace of trade and output growth since the 2009 financial crisis.

It is also the first time in 15 years that international commerce has been left trailing behind the world economy, reports the BBC.

The downturn reflects the slowdown in countries such as China and Brazil and lower levels of imports into the US.

Trade has grown 1.5 times faster than gross domestic product over the long term - but the WTO say it will only grow 80% as fast this year.

That would be the first reversal of globalization since 2001 and only the second time this has happened since 1982.

WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo said, “The dramatic slowing of trade growth is serious and should serve as a wake-up call”.

“It is particularly concerning in the context of growing anti-globalization sentiment.”

“We need to make sure that this does not translate into misguided policies that could make the situation much worse - not only from the perspective of trade, but also for job creation and economic growth and development, which are so closely linked to an open trading system.”

BDST: 1625 HRS, SEP 27, 2016
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