South Africa, like the rest of the global economy, will continue to be collateral damage in the escalating trade war between China and the US, Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies has said, predicting a worrying rise in unilateral actions by individual states. Davies cast doubt on the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) ability to diffuse the standoff, saying it had been hobbled by the United States government’s blocking of nominations to its appellate body, which settles disputes between member countries.