The WTO plans to reduce its forecasts for the global economy and calls for "restraint" on the trade war

TThe global trade arbiter has lowered its economic forecast, saying that a rising tide of protectionism has dampened growth.

A thriving trade war between the world's two largest economies, China and the United States, was cited as the main reason for the 0.5 percentage point reduction in trade growth from 2018 to 3.9 percent. .

According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), trade is expected to slow down again next year, reaching a growth of 3.7 pc.

The increase in "current and proposed trade measures targeting a variety of exports from major economies" had triggered decommissioning, according to the WTO.