World trade has fought its way back to health. These tensions risk it all | Roberto Azevêdo

Even anti-trade rhetoric is enough to threaten the global recovery. Trade sanctions themselves would be disastrous

It is no small irony that as global trade grows at the healthiest clip in years, trade tensions escalate to levels not seen in decades. In 2017, trade expanded at its fastest annual pace in six years, growing 4.7%. Export growth was robust in every region of the world last year as exports in Asia grew by 10.7%, in North America by 7.3% and in Latin America by 13% - the kind of synchronised growth that we haven't seen in a decade.

Related: Trade war? What you need to know about US steel tariffs