AI to boost trade by nearly 40% by 2040 if gaps are bridged, World Trade Report 2025 finds
you are currently viewing::AI to boost trade by nearly 40% by 2040 if gaps are bridged, World Trade Report 2025 findsSeptember 17, 2025-The 2025 edition of the World Trade Report reveals that, with the right enabling policies, artificial intelligence (AI) could boost the value of cross-border flows of goods and services by nearly 40% by 2040 thanks to productivity gains and lower trade costs. However, the flagship publication by the WTO Secretariat notes that for AI and trade to contribute to inclusive growth-with benefits shared widely- policies need to be in place to bridge the digital divide, invest in workforce skills, and maintain an open and predictable trading environment. According to the report, AI could lead to significant increases in trade and GDP by 2040, with global trade projected to rise by 34-37% across different scenarios based on different degrees of policy and technological catch-up between low-, middle- and high-income economies. Global GDP could meanwhile see a 12-13% increase across different scenarios. Trade, in turn, can be a powerful enabler of inclusive AI -supported growth by helping economies access AI-enabling goods, such as raw materials, semiconductors and intermediate inputs. The WTO report estimates that global trade in these goods totalled USD 2.3 trillion in 2023. Source: World Trade Organization (WTO) |
February 26, 2026--Assets invested in the ETFs industry globally reached a new record of US$20.64 trillion at the end of January. During January, the ETFs industry globally gathered net inflows of US$150.41 billion, according to ETFGI's January 2026 Global ETFs and ETPs industry landscape insights report, the monthly report which is part of ETFGI's an annual paid-for research subscription service.
February 26, 2026-Three charts mapping our projections for passenger aviation demand as of the end of 2025.
Here is the outlook as of the end of 2025:
Annual air travel demand returned to pre-pandemic levels last year, with revenue passenger kilometers (RPK)-the number of paying passengers multiplied by the total distance traveled-reaching nearly 107% of 2019 volume. The 2040 outlook remains relatively unchanged at a global level compared with previous forecasts.
February 18, 2026--Diversification has become harder since 2020 as stocks and bonds tend to move in tandem during sharp selloffs, adding to financial stability concerns
Spreading investments across asset classes can reduce risk and smooth returns. The classic diversification between stocks and bonds worked historically because they moved in opposite directions.
February 18, 2026--During the week of 9 February, the global ETF industry recorded strong product activity, with 49 new ETF launches and four closures, resulting in a net increase of 45 products worldwide according to research from ETFGI.
The United States led net growth with 22 new launches, followed by APAC (excluding Japan) with 13 and Europe with nine.
February 11, 2026--China, Poland, and Türkiye were the largest gold buyers among central banks between 2020 and 2025.
Gold prices surged more than 230% over the period, fueling one of the strongest official-sector buying waves in decades.
A smaller group of countries reduced holdings, highlighting divergent reserve strategies.
January 25, 2026--The European Union accounted for 18.8% of all U.S. trade in the first 10 months of 2025, valued at $883.3 billion .
China ranks as America's fourth-largest trading partner, with U.S. imports declining 26.7%, given rising tensions.
U.S. bilateral trade reached $4.7 trillion between January and October 2025, in a volatile year for trade policy.