GENEVA - THE World Trade Organisation said on Wednesday that there has been 'further slippage' towards trade restricting or distorting policies implemented by governments since March amid the economic crisis.

'In the past three months, there has been further slippage towards more trade restricting and distorting policies but resort to high intensity protectionist measures has been contained overall, albeit with difficulties,' it said in a report to member states.

It noted that even without taking into account trade measures put in place by governments due to the swine flu pandemic, there were more than twice as many new trade distorting or restricting measures introduced than new trade liberalising ones. -- AFP