Trade fights are pushing the global economy ever closer to the edge

Two deadlines next month will have a huge impact on how the global economy fares in 2019. Depending on what happens when they pass, it could shake off a recent slump or slide towards a recession.

The United States has threatened to impose even higher tariffs on China if the world’s top two economies can’t do a deal on trade by March 1. Escalating the trade conflict would hurt the already slowing Chinese economy, dragging down other countries that rely on it for growth.