KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 — Global trade in 2026 is expected to record positive growth in both output and international trade flows, despite lingering uncertainties and the impact of protectionist measures.
Germany's University of Applied Sciences economics and international economics professor Peter Mayer said opportunities continue to exist for both countries and companies as global trade is redirected by shifting economic relationships and supply chain adjustments.
“There will be a restructuring of relationships. There will be new alliances, and there is no reason to be completely negative this year or next year,” he said on Bernama TV World today.
Commenting on the United States' (US) high tariffs, Mayer said these measures are likely to reshape global trade patterns and investment decisions.
He noted that companies are increasingly reassessing export strategies and foreign direct investment locations in response to evolving trade barriers and geopolitical considerations.
Citing Germany as an example, Mayer said companies are now actively exploring investment opportunities in countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, and India, while also assessing emerging markets across Africa.
“The reshaping is taking place and will continue as part of a normal process. At the same time, some of these relationships are the result of long-term planning,” he said.
Mayer added that consumer-oriented exports from China are increasingly being diverted away from the US to alternative markets, including Europe, as companies respond to sustained trade barriers.
