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ICT continues to be characterised by stiff competition and cheap imports causing pricing pressures, especially for smaller IT resellers and distributors.

The recent escalation of the Sino-US trade dispute and the US restrictions on suppliers to Huawei will surely affect certain Taiwanese ICT businesses.

The profit margins of many Spanish ICT wholesale and retail businesses remain tight, which is mainly due to high competition in terms of sales prices.

While ICT distributors are becoming larger, many smaller companies are changing their business models towards a more IT service-oriented approach.

Payment experience over the past two years has been good and the level of protracted payments and insolvencies remains low compared to other industries.

The domestic ICT market remains affected by stiff competition, declining margins, low entry barriers, lack of bank support and slow economic growth.

World trade growth stagnated in Q1 amid the escalating trade war. While we expect some recovery in 2019, further escalation of the trade war could grind growth to a halt.

European pro-trade policy likely to stay in place after the European elections

In 2019 Austrian economic growth is expected to decelerate after a robust performance in 2018, mainly due to weaker external demand and lower investment.

Swiss economic growth is expected to slow down in 2019, as external demand from the Eurozone and the US has weakened and investment growth decreases.