Bangladesh, Oct. 7 -- The World Bank has issued a sobering warning for South Asia, forecasting that the regions economic growth will slow down significantly in 2026 due to escalating trade tensions and tariff hikes imposed by the United States. In its latest report, published on October 7, the multilateral lender revised its growth projection for South Asia from 6.4% to 5.8%, citing the ripple effects of Washingtons aggressive trade measures and a broader global economic slowdown.

The downgrade underscores how US protectionist policies under President Donald Trumps administration are beginning to reverberate across developing economies, particularly in manufacturing-dependent regions like South Asia. With tariffs now targeting key export...