Goods trade growth appears to have slowed in the second half of 2025 following a surge in the first half driven by frontloading of imports ahead of expected tariff hikes and by rising demand for AI-related products, according to the latest WTO Goods Trade Barometer.

Brussels - The overall barometer index (illustrated by the blue line in the chart below) fell to 101.8 for the month of September, down from 102.2 in June and below the quarterly trade volume index representing actual merchandise trade developments through Q2 (the black line).  . . .