Note: This article was originally published in Channel News Asia on 28June 2019. ERIA Chief Economist, Prof Fukunari Kimura is the author.

TOKYO: Economists are fretting over the trade turmoil that currently roils the world economy.  Worst-case scenarios are now front and centre, including the prospect of a World Trade Organisation (WTO) minus one (the United States or China), or perhaps even the world minus the WTO. The US–China trade war has significantly degraded the rules-based trading regime. The upcoming Osaka G20 summit over Jun 28 to 29 could send the global trade system either into intensive care or to the coroner. (Read the full article by using the link above).