If the world were to split into two isolated trading blocs, sub-Saharan Africa would be the region most affected.
This is the view of five International Monetary Fund (IMF) economists and is based on the results of a study released in April.
According to IMF estimates, as tensions between the two blocs increase, sub-Saharan African countries could experience a permanent decline of up to 4% in their gross domestic product (GDP) over a 10-year period, corresponding to higher losses than those suffered during the 2008 global financial crisis.
Stock vulnerability
In recent years, sub-Saharan Africa has benefited from economic opportunities through new economic and trade alliances, most notably with China. These opportunities have had “a positive impact on the region”, according to the IMF.
According to official statistics, China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 years, after
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