Several Asia-Pacific developing economies grew more slowly in Q1/2025 amid surging global economic and policy uncertainties.
Declining global commodity prices have enabled further interest rate reductions and would have varied economic impacts across countries and households.
Although trade tensions between China and the United States seem to have eased for now, there is considerable uncertainty, with near-term economic prospects clouded by several downside risks.
Special topic: Rising trade protectionism in the United States is likely to disproportionately hurt poorer Asia-Pacific countries, with significant broader implications in the long term.