The Dow Jones (DJIA) opened Tuesday’s trading session in the green after the World Trade Organization (WTO) hiked its 2025 global trade growth forecast.
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
- Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 55% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
The WTO now expects global trade to grow 2.4% during the year, up from its April estimate of 0.9%. Global trade grew by 4.9% during the first half of 2025, driven by emerging markets, elevated demand for AI-related goods, and businesses front-running purchases ahead of the Trump administration’s tariffs.
WTO Warns of Trade Growth Slowdown in 2026
However, the WTO expects 2026 trade growth to drop sharply to 0.5%, down from its previous estimate of 1.8%.
“Trade growth is expected to slow in 2026 as the global economy cools and as the full impact of higher tariffs is finally felt for a full year,” said the organization. While AI-related goods will continue to boost trade, factors like policy uncertainty, slower employment growth, and trade-restrictive measures could hamper it.
Stay ahead of macro events with our up-to-the-minute Economic Calendar — filter by impact, country, and more.