Global economic forecasts suggest a slowdown for Asia-Pacific economies. Rising costs linked to the conflict in Iran and ongoing trade uncertainty threaten global supply chains.

Asia-Pacific economies are likely to suffer a slowdown in growth this year, as rising costs linked to the US-Israel war on Iran combine with lingering trade uncertainty to threaten global trade flows, according to forecasts by top international organisations. The predictions come despite China showing resilience in the first quarter by posting better-than-expected growth of 5 per cent and finance minister Lan Foan last week stressing that the world’s second-largest economy would remain an engine...