WTO Report Highlights AI Potential For Global Trade Growth

Artificial intelligence could boost global trade in goods and services by up to 37% and raise global GDP by 13% by 2040, according to the World Trade Organization’s latest World Trade Report. The Geneva-based body said AI can lower trade costs, enhance productivity, and support export growth, particularly in low-income countries, if digital infrastructure is improved. Benefits include lower logistics costs, regulatory compliance, and translation technologies that enable small producers to access global markets. However, the report warned AI could widen economic divides without inclusive policies and investment. WTO officials emphasized the importance of education, skills training, and social safety nets in managing labor market shifts. Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged predictable trade rules and lower tariffs on key AI inputs, such as semiconductors.

Reuters, Olivia Le Poidevin – AI set to transform global trade, says World Trade Organization report – 17th September 2025