The 2025 World Trade Report estimates that, with the correct enabling policies, artificial intelligence (AI) could boost the value of cross-border commodities and services by about 40% by 2040 as a result of increased productivity and decreased trade costs.
In order for trade and AI to support inclusive growth, with benefits distributed widely, policies must be in place to close the digital gap, invest in workforce skills, and preserve an open and predictable trading environment, according to the WTO Secretariat’s flagship magazine.
According to the paper, AI has the potential to significantly boost GDP and commerce by 2040. Depending on the level of policy and technical catch-up between low-, middle-, and high-income economies, global trade is predicted to rise by 34–37%.
