jetro white paper on international trade 1999 fall in prices causes slowdown world summary japan external organization this same information can be viewed s website at http www go jp contents part 1 overview of global growth slumps to decade low 2 contracts east asia shows signs recovery 8 3 widespread decline export 11 4 drop import contributes price stability industrialized countries 16 5 a japanese 19 6 issues facing 26 regional trends 27 north america economic and changes environment developments with latin 28 29 oceania 30 31 europe 32 western central eastern cis 34 middle