New report examines how artificial intelligence may shape future of international trade

November 21, 2024--A new report published today (21 November) by the WTO Secretariat discusses the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on world trade. The report examines key trade-related policy considerations raised by this technology and discusses the critical role of the WTO in facilitating AI-related trade, ensuring trustworthy AI, and promoting global regulatory convergence.

The report, entitled "Trading with Intelligence: How AI Shapes and is Shaped by International Trade", discusses how AI can reduce trade costs, reshape trade in services, increase trade in AI-related goods and services, and redefine economies' comparative advantages. The report also highlights the increasing fragmentation of approaches to AI regulation, which may have a particular impact on trade opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized businesses.

The report provides an overview of government initiatives taken at the domestic, regional and international levels both to promote and to regulate AI.

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OECD GDP growth remains stable in the third quarter of 2024

November 21, 2024--"Gross domestic product (GDP) in the OECD rose by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2024, slightly up from 0.4% in the previous quarter, according to provisional estimates."
Gross domestic product (GDP) in the OECD rose by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2024, slightly up from 0.4% in the previous quarter,1 according to provisional estimates (Figure 1).
The overall GDP growth rate for the G7 remained unchanged in Q3 2024, at 0.5%. This reflects a mixed picture among G7 countries. While growth in the United States remained stable in Q3 at 0.7%, it slowed in Canada and Japan (from 0.5% in Q2 to 0.2% in Q3 in both countries), the United Kingdom (from 0.5% to 0.1%) and Italy (from 0.2% to 0.0%).

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G20 Economies Should Target Reforms to Boost Medium-Term Growth Prospects

November 21, 2024--Improving fiscal policy frameworks, fostering education and skills, and supporting the green transition can help ensure strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth
For most Group of Twenty economies, growth is poised to weaken over the next five years and remain well below what was typical in the two decades before the pandemic.
That's one of the biggest shared challenges for the group, which accounts for about 85 percent of global gross domestic product.

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Report shows surge in G20 trade-restrictive measures amid increased unilateral policies

November 13, 2024--Trade restrictive measures introduced by G20 economies significantly increased in coverage over the past year, according to the 31st WTO Trade Monitoring Report on G20 trade measures issued on 13 November. Although G20 economies also continued to introduce wide-ranging trade facilitating measures, the report points to increasing evidence of inward-looking and unilateral trade policy decisions.

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