Global Trade Growth Looks More Subdued in 2026 After Year of Trump Tariff Chaos
Three forecasts over the past week indicate the global economy remains fragile amid tariff uncertainty
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Global goods trade in 2025 is a story with two distinct halves — a frenzy of US tariff frontrunning and cargo rerouting, followed by steadier growth fueled largely by investments in artificial intelligence. Next year should bring a clearer picture of the sustained headwinds trade wars create.
That’s a common theme in reports released over the past week by three multilateral institutions that track cross-border commerce and capital flows — the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.