Global trade to grow slower in 2019: WTO

GENEVA - The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday lowered its forecast for global trade growth this year from 3.7 percent to 2.6 percent, due to economic uncertainties.

"With trade tensions running high, no one should be surprised by this outlook," said WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo at the release of the Trade and Statistics Outlook.

"Trade cannot play its full role in driving growth when we see such high levels of uncertainty," warned the WTO chief.

The WTO said trade growth could rebound to the 2018 level of 3 percent in 2020 if trade tensions ease.