CAPE TOWN- OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo expects global trade disputes to hit energy demand eventually but is hopeful the "cloud of uncertainty" will lift soon.

The prospect of a trade stand-off between the United States and China triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats against the world's second-biggest economic power has caused jitters in markets across the world.

"The trade disputes that are emerging among some of the leading partners in the world will eventually hurt (global economic) growth and, by extension, demand for energy," Barkindo told reporters in Cape Town.

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf Writing by James Macharia Editing by David Goodman) ((james.macharia@thomsonreuters.com; Tel: +27 11 775 3168; Reuters Messaging: james.macharia.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))