THE United Nations on Thursday forecast slower global economic growth this year and next, pointing to the impact of the surge in US tariffs and increasing trade tensions.

UN economists also cited the volatile geopolitical landscape and threats of rising production costs, supply chain disruptions and financial turbulence.

Launching the forecast Shantanu Mukherjee, director of the economic analysis and policy division at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said: ”These days, there’s so much uncertainty in the air. It’s been a nervous time for the global economy.