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Lower global trade, ongoing trade policy uncertainty, less demand from China and the ICT downcycle have an immediate impact on Singapore's export-driven economy.

Construction is a significant contributor to the Australian economy, accounting for 8.1% of GDP.

Construction activity decreased towards the end of 2019 against the backdrop of weaker economic growth and political issues (shifting Brexit deadlines and a snap general election in December).

According to Statistics Poland, output of construction and assembly works increased 2.6% in 2019.

Dutch construction contributes approximately EUR 70 billion to, and accounts for 4.5% of GDP.

According to the national association of construction companies (ANCE), in 2019 construction investment increased 1.7% year-on-year, to about EUR 130 billion.

Growth of French GDP is expected to slow down further in 2020, and the outlook for the construction sector is rather subdued across all major segments.

Despite low confidence and modest 1.2% GDP growth in 2019, the construction sector performed quite well in terms of volume, and value added increased more than 2%.

Over the past years construction investment and valued added grew at a faster rate than GDP, benefitting from robust economic growth in Spain, increased foreign investment and low interest rates.

The coronavirus outbreak arrives at a time when global growth is already expected to slow and negatively impacts growth and insolvencies.

The herculean task of restructuring Argentina's debt is underway but the risk of a disorderly default remains high.

Despite increasing clouds on the horizon, there remain several bright spots for export opportunities in emerging markets.

US economic growth started to slow down last year, with GDP expected to expand 2.3% in 2019 and 1.7% in 2020.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the the leftist Morena party governs with a strong political mandate, as a Morena-led coalition has a majority in both houses of Congress.

As in 2019, Canada´s GDP growth is expected to remain below its long-term trend in 2020 due to sluggish domestic demand and lower export growth.

A hard Brexit and an escalation of EU-US trade disputes are downside risks for export-dependent food companies in the olives/olive oil and meat segments.

In the food retail sector smaller and independent businesses are struggling to remain profitable due to fierce competition and high price pressure.

Food sales growth continues, and the economic impact of the USMCA agreement on consumers and food supply chains is expected to be relatively small.

Despite efforts of food exporters to diversify shipments away from Britain a hard Brexit remains a major threat, potentially leading to more insolvencies.

In the Belgian food retail segment a comprehensive price war cannot be ruled out for the future, potentially forcing many businesses out of the market.