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World Trade OrganizationActivities by WTO
Trading with Intelligence: How AI Shapes and is Shaped by International Trade
Global Not ApplicableThis report examines the intersection of AI and international trade. It discusses how AI may shape the future of international trade by reducing trade costs, improving productivity and expanding economies' comparative advantages. The report reviews some key trade policy considerations, in particular the urgent need to address the growing AI divide between economies and between large and small firms, as well as data governance and intellectual property issues. It examines how to guarantee the trustworthiness of AI without hindering trade. The report also provides an overview of domestic, regional and international government initiatives to promote and regulate AI, and highlights the resulting risk of regulatory fragmentation. Finally, the report discusses the critical role of the WTO in facilitating AI-related trade, ensuring trustworthy AI and addressing emerging trade tensions, noting that the rapid evolution of AI is prompting questions about the implications of AI for international trade rules.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsWorld Trade Report 2025: Making trade and AI work together to the benefit of all
Global Not ApplicableThe 2025 edition of the World Trade Report explores how AI could shape inclusive, trade-led growth. It presents new findings that AI could substantially expand global trade between 34-37% across different scenarios and lift global GDP by over 12-13% by 2040 through lower trade costs and productivity gains. Trade, in turn, can make AI more accessible by helping economies access AI-enabling goods, such as raw materials, semiconductors and intermediate inputs. AI-enabled services show potential to create new trade opportunities. The report highlights that these benefits will depend on narrowing digital divides such as investing in education and training and deploying appropriate labour market policies; and having open and predictable trade policies. It examines the role of trade and trade-related policies in creating an enabling environment for more inclusive growth driven by AI. Finally, the report discusses the importance of international cooperation and in particular, the role of the WTO in fostering cooperation, addressing AI-related trade concerns, and promoting broader participation in agreements that can make AI technologies more accessible and affordable.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsSmall Business Champions 2026
Global Not Applicable
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the World
Trade Organization’s Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (WTO
MSME Group) in partnership with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), organised the Small Business Champions 2026 with the aim of highlighting innovative solutions and initiatives that help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for international trade.
The two winners, Rinato Space (Zambia) and Koaloo.FI (France), and the two runners-up, The Globby (Turkey) and CCIT&CIPE (Colombia), were announced on 29 June 2026.
About the competition
The Small Business Champions Competition is an annual competition launched in 2021, that provides an opportunity for businesses, industry associations, chambers of commerce and non-governmental organizations to propose innovative, practical ways of helping small businesses play a more active role in world trade.
This year's competition organized under the theme of "Supporting Small Businesses to Use AI for International Trade". AI is profoundly reshaping global trade, offering small businesses powerful new ways to optimize supply chains, reduce costs and overcome longstanding trade barriers. AI-driven tools now provide real-time analytics, track shipments, anticipate disruptions and enhance compliance capabilities to meet international trade regulations. This transformation is especially important for smaller businesses, as it can help them to navigate complex and constantly changing market dynamics. The competition, launched in January, invited small businesses, business support organizations and non-governmental organizations to apply with initiatives built upon proven models and emerging AI technologies that ensure that small businesses worldwide can fully benefit from this digital revolution in trade.