Trade war could threaten the global economy

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevedo has called on states to engage in WTO dialogue to end trade disruptions in the global economy.

“Disruptions in world trade will threaten the global economy during economic recovery,” Azevedo said at the WTO meeting in Geneva.

During the meeting in Geneva, representatives of the WTO member countries noted that the US tariffs on steel and aluminum, which came into force on Friday, do not comply with WTO rules and that they may cause a “domino effect”.

A US spokesman denies these claims, arguing that US tariffs are in line with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

The EU has expressed its commitment to open multilateral trade in accordance with WTO rules. “Free and fair trade is one of the strongest growth drivers, supports millions of jobs and promotes well-being,” the EU meeting concluded.