WTO Chief Cautions AI Trade Surge May Mask Global Commerce Issues

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned that the significant growth in AI-related trade, which expanded 42% in Q1 2026, is obscuring broader global commerce disruptions and the impact of tariffs. She expressed concern that if the AI boom is a temporary phenomenon, it may not sustain current trade growth, raising questions about the long-term stability of international trade.