If the 1998-2008 biennium. World trade grew by an average of 5.7% per year, this year its volume reduced by 10%, predicts the WTO (March forecast - 9%). But the downturn could worsen, the report Global trade - 2009.

The crisis provoked the Government to use the entire arsenal of protective measures to support domestic producers, the WTO noted. In calculating theshort-term effect of the country at risk just to increase the duration and extent of recession. World trade can not be limited, said the WTO.

warning about the likelihood of a sharp increase in trade barriers in 2009, estimates of the WTO does not, noting that the situation began to deteriorate further in 2008 The number of anti-dumping proceedings increased by 28% compared with 2007, but proceedings may further delay the trade flows, say the authors of the report.

WTO fears a global trade war: trade partners in response to the imposed restrictions can begin to retaliate against offenders and to provoke them into an even more aggressive protectionism.

protectionism is rising, but so far none of the members of the WTO is not beyond the scope of the agreements, like the Director of Information Bureau on Russia's WTO accession Alexei Portansky: Russia is taking advantage of a pause in the negotiations on joining the WTO, to strengthen protective measures, even when auknetsya resumption of negotiations.

However, despite this pessimistic report in recent months, the rate of decline in world trade has slowed, especially in Asia, said the WTO director Pascal Lamy: they can become the engine that will return the world trade in the trajectory of growth.

in the world league of trading nations of changes has not yet happened. At the end of 2008, the largest exporter is Germany (9.1% of world trade), 2 nd place of China (8.9%) at 3-m - United States (8.1%). The three largest importers - the USA (13.2%), Germany (7.3%) and China (6.9%). Russia is engaged in 9 th place in the ranking of world exporters (2.9%) and 16 th - importers.