AI to boost trade by nearly 40% by 2040 if gaps are bridged, World Trade Report 2025 finds

The 2025 edition of the World Trade Report reveals that, with the right enabling policies, artificial intelligence (AI) could boost the value of cross-border flows of goods and services by nearly 40% by 2040 thanks to productivity gains and lower trade costs. However, the flagship publication by the WTO Secretariat notes that for AI and trade to contribute to inclusive growth — with benefits shared widely — policies need to be in place to bridge the digital divide, invest in workforce skills, and maintain an open and predictable trading environment.

A huge thank you to the Africa Data Centres Association board contribution to the report.

The World Trade Report 2025 can be downloaded from the WTO website. An executive summary of the report is available here.