The director - general of the WTO has said G20 countries must co - operate to ease global trade tensions after the trade coverage of import - restrictive products hit what he called a “ dramatic spike ” . Roberto Azevedo said the rise in trade restrictions which had followed a stable trend since the financial crisis threatened uncertainty , low investment and lower trade growth . He called for urgent action from the WTO to tackle the problem . Together, these two periods represent a dramatic spike in the trade coverage of import-restrictive measures, leading WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo to call on G20 economies to work together urgently to ease trade tensions. The Global Trade Report said G20 countries had introduced 20 new trade restrictions , less than in previous periods although involving much more trade and harsher tariffs .
The director - general of the WTO has said G20 countries must co - operate to ease global trade tensions after the trade coverage of import - restrictive products hit what he called a “ dramatic spike ” . Roberto Azevedo said the rise in trade restrictions which had followed a stable trend since the financial crisis threatened uncertainty , low investment and lower trade growth . He called for urgent action from the WTO to tackle the problem . The Global Trade Report said G20 countries had introduced 20 new trade restrictions , less than in previous periods although involving much more trade and harsher tariffs .