GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – Artificial intelligence has the potential to boost global trade by up to 37% by 2040 and increase worldwide gross domestic product by as much as 13%, according to the World Trade Organization‘s World Trade Report 2025. This significant growth projection underscores the importance of policies that promote equitable access to AI tools and foster inclusive international commerce, a focus of the upcoming event.
On September 14, the WTO will host its inaugural World Trade and Tech Day at its headquarters in Geneva. The event aims to unite trade officials, technology policymakers, business leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss how artificial intelligence can shape future trade strategies. Under the theme, “AI and Trade: Turning Potential into Progress,” the agenda emphasizes expanding AI access and supporting more inclusive trade practices across nations.
Kicking off the event, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will deliver opening remarks. A ministerial dialogue will explore why artificial intelligence has become a key issue in trade policy. The program will feature a keynote speech and a panel discussion with private-sector participants. Topics will include digital services, intellectual property, technical standards, and the participation of developing economies in AI-driven value chains. The sessions are designed to connect technological policy with the practical realities faced by cross-border businesses.
The meeting will reference the World Trade Report 2025, which highlights the impact of AI on international trade and economic growth. The report estimates that AI could lead to a 37% increase in global trade and a 13% rise in world GDP by 2040. These benefits depend heavily on infrastructure, skills, technology adoption, and policy environments. It also emphasizes that unequal access to AI tools may restrict participation, especially among lower-income economies.
Trade policy at the forefront
A series of sessions will investigate how AI can reduce international trade costs. Discussions will cover tools that assist businesses in processing documents, ensuring compliance, and analyzing supply chains. The agenda will also include topics related to digitally delivered services and intellectual property rights. Additionally, a session will explore how technical standards can enhance compatibility across markets, reflecting AI’s increasing role in customs, logistics, finance, and other trade-related sectors.
Barriers hindering broader AI utilization will also be addressed. Many businesses still face challenges such as unreliable connectivity, limited computing resources, a shortage of skilled labor, and high costs of financing. Smaller firms often encounter additional legal and technical hurdles when entering digital marketplaces. During a June discussion on AI and trade, WTO’s small-business group examined these issues, highlighting how emerging tools can improve market research, lower costs, and improve access to trade data.
Showcasing practical AI solutions
An exhibition showcasing AI applications for international commerce will be part of World Trade and Tech Day. A pitching session will feature tools aimed at companies, public agencies, and trade organizations. These demonstrations will bridge policy debates with tangible technological applications, illustrating how AI supports supply-chain analysis, regulatory processes, and market data access. Participants will see real-world systems already functioning within trade environments.
The event on September 14 will take place at the World Trade Organization’s headquarters in Geneva. The program combines ministerial discussions, input from the business sector, policy analysis, and demonstrations of innovative technology. The focus will be on artificial intelligence, trade costs, digital services, and economic inclusion, alongside infrastructure and skills development to promote wider adoption. Details for registration and virtual participation are available on the official event page.