Growth in world trade in goods will slow down markedly to 1.9% this year from 4.6% in 2025 and could decelerate even more if the Middle East war continues to push energy prices higher and disrupt global transport, a World Trade Organization report said on Thursday. While global trade remains resilient, buoyed by trade in AI-related products, the growth forecast is under pressure from the expanding U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said. ADVERTISEMENTIf crude oil and liquefied natural gas prices remain high throughout 2026 due to the conflict, global trade in goods could slow further to 1.4%, WTO economists said. Trade in AI-enabling goods accounted for 42% of global trade growth in 2025, despite representing only one-sixth of global trade. Some 72% of world trade is being conducted on a Most-Favoured-Nation basis after falling from about 80% at the start of last year when Trump imposed higher import tariffs, WTO economists estimate.

Source: The Telegraph March 19, 2026 14:15 UTC