After reaching a record $35 trillion in 2025, global trade is set to keep growing in 2026 at a slower pace as geopolitical tensions, supply chain shifts and digital and green transitions reshape trade flows.
Trade and Commerce
Discover how the WTO manages global trade, helps countries trade better, and improves lives worldwide.
Geopolitical shifts and financial instability are reshaping globalization, straining trade and development, heightening risks for developing economies, and underscoring the need for coordinated trade, finance, debt, and climate reforms.
Set for November 2026, the will unite world leaders in Saudi Arabia to boost trade resilience and build sustainable, inclusive logistics systems. .
The 16th UN Conference on Trade and Development is being held from 20 - 23 October 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva under the theme 鈥淪haping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development鈥. Hosted by Switzerland and , the conference brings together governments, Nobel Laureates, international organizations, civil society and renowned experts to discuss global trends and policy perspectives on trade, investment, development and digital economy. Check the and follow the conference on .
With over one鈥憈hird of people offline and half of businesses not trading online, post offices鈥攐ften the only public access point in remote areas鈥攁re vital gateways to the digital economy. #PostForPeople: Local Service. Global Reach, the theme of this year鈥檚 World Post Day (9 October), highlights the Post鈥檚 role as a trusted, community-centered public service. From countryside hamlets to urban hubs, the Post connects people and expands opportunities. Celebrate #WorldPostDay with us as we renew our commitment to a strong, sustainable postal network that supports communities around the globe.
Global seaborne trade is projected to grow by just 0.5% in 2025, as rerouting contribute to mounting uncertainty in the maritime transport sector.
For generations, the postal service has connected people by delivering stories, ideas, and dreams. As the world evolves, so does the postal service. At the (8鈥19 September), ministers, regulators, and CEOs from postal services and the private sector across the Universal Postal Union鈥檚 () 192 member countries gather in Dubai to chart the UPU鈥檚 2026鈥2029 strategy and advance transformation of international mail exchanges through inclusion, innovation and sustainability. Founded in 1874, the UPU is the world鈥檚 second oldest international organization.
UNCTAD鈥檚 latest reveals that systemic uncertainty, driven by shifting policies and geopolitical instability, is reshaping global trade, raising costs, and disproportionately harming developing economies.
Over two-thirds of developing countries remain reliant on , risking instability and missed opportunities without urgent economic diversification.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora () is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that the international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. With 185 Parties and strong partnerships, CITES has worked for five decades to make wildlife trade sustainable, legal, and traceable. It has helped build a world where people and wildlife coexist and thrive together, while advancing sustainable development.
This year, Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (27 June) comes at a time of shifts in global trade and just ahead of two major development conferences in and . These enterprises are crucial for job creation and local development, especially for women and vulnerable groups. They face challenges such as limited financing and tough operating conditions. Climate change and supply chain disruptions worsen their struggles. Addressing the funding gap, supportive policies, skills training, and easier registration are vital for their success.
The latest from examines the ocean economy 鈥 a vital driver of global trade now under growing pressure from environmental and geopolitical shocks.
Not long ago, we were deep in a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation has now eased a bit but geopolitics remain tense and the global economy is still struggling to recover.
But rather than moving towards more open trade, many countries are becoming more protectionist. Adding to the unease, countries are threatening to slap huge tariffs on major trading partners.
In the current climate, there are fears that escalating tariffs could lead to trade wars - a scenario with grim prospects for many developing countries. For more on the ins and outs of tariffs, tune in to the UNCTAD鈥檚 with Emily Blanchard, former Chief Economist at the U.S. State Department and Associate Professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
UN Trade and Development's promotes sustainable biodiversity conservation, fostering economic development through responsible trade practices while benefiting local communities and aligning with global agreements like the (CBD) and (CITES).