Global Trade and Economic Concepts

Critics argue that the WTO is _____ and struggling to _____ modern trade issues like digital commerce and state-owned enterprises.

• on the ball / get across

• in a rut / come up with

• at a crossroads / grapple with

• in full swing / nail down

A prolonged trade war can _____ a global economic downturn, as protectionist measures cause supply chains to seize up and business confidence to plummet.

• stem from

• spark off

• account for

• boil down to

The government's industrial policy is designed to _____ key sectors they believe are _____ long-term growth.

• prop up / out of

• phase out / integral to

• carve out / synonymous with

• shore up / pivotal to

For a business _____ the implications of new tariffs, the strategy often involves _____ new suppliers in unaffected countries.

• weathering / sizing up

• grappling with / seeking out

• banking on / falling back on

• ruling out / partnering up

The CEO _____ the disappointing earnings, pointing to inflationary headwinds that were _____ the company's control.

• pinned down / within

• wrote off / under

• accounted for / beyond

• talked down / ahead of

The merger is likely to _____ significant regulatory _____ in multiple jurisdictions.

• run up against / scrutiny

• usher in / consensus

• cave in to / hurdles

• spark off / backlash

We need to _____ these new cost projections before we can _____ the budget for next year.

• factor in / nail down

• talk down / draw up

• cave in to / account for

• drum up / phase out

When inflation _____ , central banks are forced to _____ monetary policy by raising interest rates.

• kicks in / talk down

• spirals out of control / tighten

• holds steady / ease up on

• bottoms out / stick to

The negotiations _____ over the _____ issue of agricultural subsidies.

• broke down / thorny

• paid off / ground-breaking

• kicked off / overarching

• took off / nuanced

To _____ the volatility, many investors _____ traditionally safe-haven assets like gold.

• hedge against / flock to

• cash in on / divest from

• double down on / seek out

• play down / take on