WTO cuts trade growth forecast, cites economic turmoil

(Reuters) - The World Trade Organization, citing turmoil in the global economy, on Friday cut its forecast for the growth of trade in 2011 from the 6.5 per cent it predicted in April to 5.8 per cent, and warned that the final figure could be lower.

The WTO said the move reflected the fact that trade had grown more slowly than expected in recent months "and the outlook for the global economy is increasingly uncertain."

Since the April forecast, it said, "developed economies in particular have been buffeted by strong headwinds."