The World Trade Organization’s World Trade Report 2025 highlights how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could reshape global trade and economic growth by 2040. The report projects a 34–37% rise in cross-border trade and a 12–13% boost in global GDP, driven by productivity gains and lower trade costs.
It stresses that reducing digital gaps between countries is vital. In 2023, trade in AI-enabling goods like semiconductors and raw materials reached USD 2.3 trillion. If developing nations cut their digital infrastructure gap by half, incomes could rise by 14–15%.
However, high tariffs (up to 45%) and rising restrictions on AI goods hinder adoption in low-income countries. The report urges investment in education, digital infrastructure, and workforce skills to ensure inclusive growth.
The WTO calls for open, predictable trade policies and removing barriers on AI goods and services to make AI benefits accessible to all economies worldwide.
