(Jan 23): The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) may underpin global merchandise trade this year, helping overcome US tariff headwinds and lead to higher overall growth than currently projected.
About 42% of the rise in goods trade in 2025 stemmed from AI investment — computer hardware, software and other equipment needed to build infrastructure like data centres, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO director general, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Friday.
The WTO’s forecast from October saw world merchandise trade growing just 0.5% this year, weighed down mostly by the full force of US President Donald Trump’s import taxes.
“However, we see a real potential upside,” Okonjo-Iweala said. “If this kind of pace of trade in AI goods continues, then see potentially larger numbers than what we have projected.”
She added that “we are going to look at our numbers again very soon” and that the US-China trade truce and continued European Union-China engagement are key to keeping growth of international commerce on a healthy path.
The US remains engaged in the Geneva-based institution and is “active” with proposals on reforms, she said on the last day of a volatile week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
See also: Li Ka-shing mulling new ownership terms to complete ports deal — Bloomberg
“The atmosphere went from a great deal of apprehension to one of a little more hope,” Okonjo-Iweala said.
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