WTO lifts global trade outlook as AI boom powers Asian growth

A surging artificial intelligence investment boom has helped global goods trade withstand the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, says the World Trade Organization (WTO). It now expects global merchandise trade volumes to grow 3.9 per cent in 2026, up sharply from its March forecast of 1.9 per cent. But the headline numbers mask an uneven picture, with much of the strength concentrated in AI-related products and Asian economies, while the rest of the world remains considerably weaker. CNA's Olivia Marzuki speaks to WTO Chief Economist Robert Staiger about what's driving this divergence. Read more: https://cna.asia/47aMemd Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Visit our website: https://cna.asia Download our app: https://cna.asia/app Get our editors' picks of stories via chat apps: Telegram: https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp: https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us on these platforms: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia