Taking the pulse of global trade policy
How much has trade policy changed globally? This column introduces the Trade Policy Activity Index, a monthly measure of policy changes across 197 economies since
When two AI systems become one: unifying data and knowledge in global trade
Navigating global trade data is often a dual challenge for policymakers and researchers: finding the right numbers is hard, but understanding exactly what those numbers
Trade risk and optimal trade policy: Lessons from food security
Geopolitical shocks and trade disruptions have made imports less reliable, especially for essential goods like food. This column outlines a framework where trade costs are
European and Chinese exports kept growing despite the 2025 Trump trade shock
Diversification has kept global trade strong, despite Trump’s tariffs and accelerated US-China decoupling. One of the main ways in which the economic policies of the
Changing tariff treatment and the exports of developing countries
Recent changes in the tariff policies of the US and China are likely to affect developing countries in complex ways. This column argues that pre-existing
Global trade to hit record $35trln despite slowing momentum
Between July and September, global trade grew 2.5% compared with the previous three months. Global trade is expected to grow about 7% in 2025, adding
Navigating the complex world of non-tariff measures
For decades, global trade debates have centered on tariffs – the duties countries impose on imported goods. Today, a new, more complicated set of trade
Trade finance: A lifeline for jobs and businesses
When a farmer in Ghana can’t import fertilizer to grow maize or a pharmacy in Pakistan runs short of antibiotics, the barrier is rarely the
Decoupling without deglobalisation: The new geography of trade blocs
As geopolitical tensions rise, fears of deglobalisation have taken centre stage. However, world trade has remained surprisingly resilient, at least through 2023. This column uses
Global merchandise trade tops expectations in H1
WTO economists raised the 2025 merchandise trade growth forecast to 2.4%. Global merchandise trade outpaced expectations in the first half of 2025, driven by increased
