Why global economies fear a US-China decoupling

Geneva | A decoupling of the US and Chinese economies would batter the world’s GDP by more than the global financial crisis of 2008-09, World Trade Organisation director general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has warned.

In a punchy opening address to a summit of trade ministers from the WTO’s 164 member countries – the first time they have met since a failed conference in Buenos Aires five years ago – Dr Ngozi said another failure in Geneva this week would fan geopolitical tensions, fuel illegal migration and ramp up the world’s debt burden.