News stories by Pascal Lamy, page 2

World economic growth, as measured by the world's production of goods and services, has slowed abruptly in 2008 and the early part of this year. The contraction in demand led to a slowdown in production, and in international trade. World merchandise trade is projected to fall by a full 10 per cent this year, and foreign direct investment, which fell by 15 per cent in 2008, is projected to drop further, writes Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The world economy remains fragile and the economic outlook is still uncertain, writes Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

While the world could probably agree on basic objectives for our agricultural systems, we still disagree on what global integration could bring to this process, writes Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

It is too early to judge whether we are at the bottom of the recession or whether this is just the beginning. But one thing is clear: the depth and scope of the crisis will be a function of the capacity of individual countries to act together at the global level and re-inject confidence in our economic and social systems, writes Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).