Fashion and beauty brands have sharply increased their trademark filings as part of their drive against counterfeits.

The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development warned of a possible global downturn and billions of dollars in lost trade if the two countries enter a trade war.

Tensions ran high during a tense review of U.S. trade policy.

As the G20 meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi looms, the question is whether they will reach an agreement, or escalate the trade war.

A World Economic Forum study put America first, but warned that globalization is facing a potential backlash from consumers and politicians.

A U.N. report found the new projects included outlays by brands such as Golden Goose, Fabiana Filippi, Herno, Hennes & Mauritz and Hermès International.

Abercrombie & Fitch ranked fifth last year as fashion and beauty firms stepped up their filings to fight against counterfeits.

Fashion was the second most-affected area for cybersquatting last year after banking and finance, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization.

The forum contended that the fashion industry is the world’s second-biggest user of water and produces 20 percent of global wastewater.

According to WIPO, one-third of the value of manufactured goods sold globally, or $5.9 trillion, comes from “intangible capital,” the third-largest being textiles and apparel.

The ratification of the two conventions is expected to bring almost half a billion children and adolescents up to 18 years of age under legal protection.

In 2016, Vietnam was the biggest beneficiary country for new outlays in the sector with declared new projects valued at $2.7 billion, followed by Ethiopia with $636 million.

Employment fell in Cambodia’s garment sector despite a 7.2 percent increase in exports in 2016, the study found.

A U.N. study forecasts continued strong economic growth in the three countries over the next few years.

WTO: World trade to rebound in 2017 and grow by 2.4 percent, but outlook clouded by downside risks and policy uncertainty.