Finance can put trade at risk, leaving the global economy 'on the brink' – with developing countries hardest hit

 1. A new UN Trade and Development report says reforms to global financial systems are key to reducing vulnerability, improving predictability and supporting stronger alignment between trade, finance and development.

2. Global growth will slow to 2.6% in 2025, down from 2.9% in 2024, as global trade and investment face growing pressure from financial volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, according to UN Trade and Development’s new “Trade and Development Report 2025: On the Brink – Trade, finance and the reshaping of the global economy”. The report shows that shifts in financial markets move global trade almost as strongly as real economic activity, influencing development prospects worldwide.

3. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan said the findings show how financial conditions increasingly determine the direction of global trade: “Trade is not just a chain of suppliers. It is also a chain of credit lines, payment systems, currency markets and capital flows.”

Malaysia: National Semiconductor Strategy to Secure Global Position

 1. Malaysia is working to strengthen its role in the global semiconductor sector by diversifying supply chains and maintaining investor confidence amid trade uncertainties. The country’s approach is being shaped by the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), which aims to enhance resilience in an industry increasingly influenced by geopolitical and economic shifts.

2. The NSS reflects Malaysia’s ambition to position itself, alongside neighbouring economies such as Singapore and Vietnam, as a vital link in the global technology supply chain. The emphasis is on creating a more robust and flexible framework for semiconductor production and trade, moving away from the older reliance on single-sourced operations.