Executive summary

As countries around the world continue their efforts to rebound from the 2008 economic crisis and the “great collapse” of international trade in 2009, some regions, including Asia and the Pacific, are faring better than others. A global decrease in consumption has caused a prolonged slump in trade growth in exporting countries of the region, especially in manufactured goods. Economic uncertainty in the United States and the European Union is continuing to affect countries worldwide in the areas of trade, investment and labour mobility.

Related Subject(s): International Trade and Finance