The World Trade Organization (WTO) announced in a statement that global merchandise trade is expected to grow by 0.5% in 2026, a decrease from the 1.8% forecast in August.
In 2025, global merchandise trade exceeded expectations due to “increased spending on AI-based products, a surge in U.S. imports ahead of tariff hikes, and strong trade with the rest of the world,” the WTO noted in the statement.
