WTO raises 2026 global trade growth forecast to 3.9% despite Middle East war

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has increased its forecast for global merchandise trade growth in 2026 to 3.9%, attributing a significant portion of this growth to AI-enabling goods, despite ongoing disruptions to international supply chains caused by the conflict in the Middle East. However, the WTO also downgraded its forecast for global commercial services trade growth for 2026 to 3.3% due citing disruptions to international travel and transportation.