Trade forecast: WTO sees 0.9% growth in 2025; Asia to lead as North America lags

Global merchandise trade is projected to grow by 0.9% in 2025, spurred by a surge in US imports anticipating tariff hikes, the WTO reports. However, the organization cautions that these higher duties will significantly impact trade in 2026. The WTO revised its 2025 trade growth estimate to 1.8%, down from 2.5%, citing policy uncertainty and escalating tariffs.