Okonjo-Iweala unveils WTO 2025 report on AI and trade

Abdullateef Fowewe

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has announced the release of the World Trade Report 2025, which focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and global trade.

In a statement on X, Okonjo-Iweala noted that the report, themed “Making Trade and AI Work Together for the Benefit of All”, examines the evolving relationship between AI and international trade and how it can drive inclusive growth.

She noted that the publication builds on the WTO’s earlier work titled “Trading with Intelligence.”

Okonjo-Iweala emphasised AI’s potential to reduce trade costs and boost productivity but cautioned that access to AI technologies and capacity for digital trade remain uneven across regions.

The report underscores the WTO’s role in promoting inclusive access to AI benefits by providing a platform for member states to engage on AI-related trade policies.