Majority of Canada’s exporters see global recession: Survey

Bloomberg

Canadian exporters are reporting widespread concerns about a global recession, with sentiment in the sector falling to the lowest level in seven years, according to a survey by the country’s export financing agency.
Export Development Canada’s trade confidence index, a composite gauge based on a bi-annual survey of 1,000 businesses, dropped to 69.8, compared with 73.7 at the end of last year. It’s the lowest reading since 2011 and the second lowest since the last recession a decade ago.
Escalating concern over protectionism is hurting confidence, with only 8 percent of respondents expecting trade tensions to ease over the next year. About a third of respondents predict a global recession by next year and just over 50 percent see one by 2021.
“Disruptive international trade policies have clearly shaken the confidence of Canadian exporters,” Peter Hall, chief economist at EDC, said in a statement. “One third of respondents are already negatively impacted by protectionist measures now in place, and an overwhelming majority sees no resolution of major global trade issues within the next year.”
It was the first time the survey asked about the likelihood of a recession. The survey results represent a major red flag for the Canadian economy. With consumer spending expected to enter a prolonged slowdown, the economy’s ability to recover from its recent soft patch will depend in large part on exports and business investment.
And while there have been some indications of improvement in recent months, a lack of business optimism suggests any momentum could be short-lived.