AI could raise global trade by up to 37% by 2040 if digital infrastructure gaps are reduced, according to the World Trade Organization’s World Trade Report 2025 released on September 17.

The report says AI has the potential to increase global GDP by 12–13% and boost income growth in low- and middle-income countries if they improve digital access and adopt AI technologies.

However, the WTO notes that access to AI technologies and related goods remains uneven, with tariffs on AI-enabling goods reaching up to 45% in some low-income economies.

The number of quantitative trade restrictions on AI-related goods has also risen from 130 in 2012 to nearly 500 in 2024, driven by high- and upper middle-income countries.

The report recommends investment in workforce skills, open trade policies, and updated international agreements to ensure that AI-driven growth is shared more broadly.

🔗 Source: World Trade Organization