World trade rebounding slowly, outlook uncertain

GENEVA: The value of global trade is set to fall by 7% to 9% in 2020 from the previous year, despite signs of a fragile rebound led by China in the third quarter, according to United Nations report released on Wednesday.

No region was spared by an estimated 19% year-on-year plunge in world trade in the second quarter, as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted economies, the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said.

Global trade recovered somewhat in the third quarter, when it was estimated at about 4.5% less than in the same period a year ago, the agency said in its latest update.

“Trade in home office equipment and medical supplies has increased in Q3, while it further…