Illustrative image (Photo: businesstimes) Singapore (VNA) – Southeast Asia’s GDP growth is likely to remain at 4.5 percent in 2020, amid high risks of a re-escalation in trade tensions between the US and China, according to the latest report produced by the British advisory firm Oxford Economics. Friction between the two countries remains high and the bulk of imposed tariffs are unlikely to be lifted anytime soon, said Sian Fenner, Oxford Economics lead Asia economist. The region has recorded sluggish performance in the third quarter of 2019, with its GDP growth rising only 4.5 percent year-on-year. Export-oriented economies have suffered the worst blow from the ongoing trade conflict, with Singapore only narrowly avoiding a technical recession in the third quarter of 2019. Due to the US-China trade war, trade uncertainty remains a key drag on manufacturing, exports and investment. The report expects the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia … [Read more...] about Southeast Asia’s GDP growth likely to remain at 4.5 pct in 2020
