Trade Watch-Trade Expands Amid Expectations of Higher Tariffs

January 29, 2025--Global goods trade accelerated in the five months from July through November amid strong US economic growth and a spurt in demand fueled by expectations of higher import tariffs.
Trade in services, which is reported with a lag, expanded further in the July to September period, and international tourist arrivals recovered to exceed pre-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter of 2024.

A measure of stress in global supply chains rose in December to the highest level since March 2022, driven by the extended rerouting of vessels around the Cape of Good Hope and the increase in trade volumes. Freight rates rose at a slower pace and remained 40 percent above the level of a year earlier.

WTO issues new edition of World Tariff Profiles

July 7, 2025-The WTO published on 7 July the 2025 edition of World Tariff Profiles, which provides comprehensive data on the tariffs and non-tariff measures imposed by over 170 economies. It is a joint publication of the WTO, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The publication provides summary tables listing the average "bound" (maximum) tariffs and applied tariffs for each economy for both agricultural and non-agricultural products as of end-2024.

Flow Traders-Tokenization in Capital Markets: A Market Maker's Perspective

July 3, 2025-Tokenization unlocks efficiencies like instant settlement, 24/7 trading, and fractional ownership-but real-world adoption depends on solving infrastructure and regulatory challenges, not just technology.
Market makers face key friction points in tokenized markets: fragmented liquidity requiring pre-funding across blockchains, lack of product-market fit without real demand, and operational complexity from 24/7 trading.