The report shows that during the period from mid-October 2024 to mid-October 2025, the total value of global merchandise imports affected by new tariffs and other import-related measures reached US$2.640 trillion, equivalent to 11.1% of total world imports.

This figure represents more than a fourfold increase from US$611 billion recorded in the previous review period, marking the highest level in over 15 years. On the export side, the total value of trade impacted stood at approximately US$2.966 trillion, more than three times higher than the US$888 billion reported previously.

Alongside rising protectionist trends, WTO members and observers also expanded the adoption of new trade-facilitation measures for goods. During the review period, 331 measures were implemented, covering an estimated trade value of US$2.090 trillion, about 1.5 times higher than the US$1.441 trillion recorded in the preceding report.

Speaking at a meeting of the WTO Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB), Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala underscored that the sharp increase in tariff measures reflects a broader rise in protectionism since the beginning of the year.

Nearly 20% of global merchandise imports are currently affected by tariffs and similar measures applied since 2009, up from 12.6% just one year earlier. At the same time, she acknowledged members’ efforts to promote dialogue rather than retaliation in order to facilitate trade, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining smooth cross-border trade flows. The WTO chief urged members to seize the current context to advance long-delayed WTO reforms, address potential concerns related to recent unilateral measures, and reposition the WTO to better capture emerging trade opportunities.

Looking ahead, WTO economists forecast that global merchandise trade growth will reach 2.4% in 2025 and 0.5% in 2026. Stronger-than-expected growth during the first half of 2025 is attributed to imports undertaken to avoid tariffs, rising demand for AI-related products, and continued trade expansion among most WTO members, particularly developing economies.

In the field of trade remedies, the review period recorded an average of 32.3 cases per month, below the 2024 peak of 37.3 cases per month. While such investigations do not necessarily lead to the application of measures, higher initiation rates often signal an increased likelihood of subsequent enforcement.

The average number of cases terminating trade-remedy measures stood at 11.4 per month, among the lowest levels since 2012, indicating that many measures remain in force. Trade-remedy actions, particularly anti-dumping measures, continue to serve as a major trade policy instrument for many WTO members, accounting for 46.5% of all merchandise trade measures recorded in the report.

In the services sector, WTO members adopted 124 new measures, primarily aimed at facilitating trade or improving regulatory frameworks. More than half of these measures applied across most sectors, with 50% related to the provision of services through commercial presence (Mode 3) and around 25% concerning the movement of professionals (Mode 4). An additional 20% targeted the Internet and other network-based services.

Beyond this, the WTO noted a range of economy-wide support measures linked to key sectors such as the environment, energy and agriculture. The report also highlighted a potential shift toward greater reliance on non-financial interventions in pursuit of broader strategic policy objectives.

The report further indicated that WTO members continued to raise trade concerns through WTO committees and bodies during the review period. WTO committees remain important forums for dealing with trade-related issues among members.

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