Digital technologies are changing the way we live, work, and trade. As WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala often says, the future of trade is digital, and it must be inclusive.
The clue is in the name: Liberation Day. When President Trump announced at the beginning of his speech that he was declaring the independence of the United States from the global trade system, this was not a negotiation. The rhetoric used was violent: “America has been looted, pillaged and raped by other countries.” The scale of the tariffs imposed was unprecedented—a minimum of 10% and for some, notably China, much higher.
The WTO’s Global Trade Outlook 2025 reveals a projected decline in global merchandise trade, rising protectionism, US-China decoupling, and a surprising resilience in services trade amid growing global uncertainty.
The UK government has suspended third-country duty – also known as MFN tariffs on 89 products, expressing an ambition that the savings will be passed on to consumers. Whilst timing of the press release appears to coincide with the imposition of 10% US tariffs applied in addition to existing most favoured nation (MFN) rates on most UK exports to the United States, the suspended tariff announcements are the outcome of a 2024 consultation.
The era of ubiquitous computing and AI has unleashed bulls for the semiconductor market globally, but especially in ASEAN. The
In ports and boardrooms around the world, patterns of commerce that once seemed immutable are shifting with the geopolitical tides.
Written in collaboration with researchers from NYU Stern School of Business, the 292-page report aims to guide business leaders and policymakers through global trade dynamics by providing context for the forces driving the global economy.
New research conducted by Descartes Systems Group and SAPIO Research suggests that businesses that use trade compliance strategically (rather than
The latest World Trade Organization (WTO) Goods Trade Barometer indicates that global merchandise trade remained steady at the start of 2025. The index read 102.8 – virtually unchanged from December’s 102.7, suggesting that trade growth continues at a moderate pace, though rising trade policy uncertainty and potential tariff measures could weigh on future performance.
Written in collaboration with researchers from NYU Stern School of Business, the 292-page report aims to guide business leaders and policymakers through global trade dynamics by providing context for the forces driving the global economy.