Brussels, 18/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - According to WTO (World Trade Organisation) forecasts published on 17 April in its report on global trade in 2007 and prospects for 2008, growth in global trade may slow to 4.5% in 2008, from 5.5% in 2007, due to the rapid economic slowdown in developed countries. The turbulence on the financial markets is casting a shadow over global trade prospects, notes the WTO, which does not rule out a stronger slowdown than forecast to well below the 4.5% growth rate it is forecasting. The WTO also points out that the economic slowdown in the developed world is only being particularly compensated by the sustained growth in emerging economies. EUROPE will be returning to this report in greater detail in our next issue of Economic Penetration in Europe and the rest of the world. (E.H.)