Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that despite rising protectionism, geopolitical tensions and global economic disruptions, approximately 72 per cent of global goods trade continues to be conducted under WTO rules.
Speaking during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Okonjo-Iweala described the resilience of the multilateral trading system as remarkable, noting that businesses continue to rely on the predictability and stability provided by WTO frameworks.
“We find that 72 per cent of world goods trade is still taking place on WTO terms,” she said, stressing that confidence in global trading rules has remained stronger than many anticipated.
She noted that the organisation initially projected global trade growth of about 2.5 per cent last year, but actual growth reached 4.6 per cent, driven largely by increased trade in artificial intelligence-related technologies, including semiconductors and processors.
According to the WTO chief, AI-related products accounted for roughly 42 per cent of global trade growth during the period.
However, she warned that the benefits of the AI boom remain concentrated in a few regions, particularly East Asia and North America, raising concerns about long-term sustainability and inclusion.
While acknowledging that the global trading system remains resilient, Okonjo-Iweala cautioned that it is not immune to future shocks and structural challenges.
