What's next for global trade? 3 predictions from the head of the WTO

2025 was a year of change in global trade, with a rise in tariffs and trade policy uncertainty. But what lies ahead in 2026? We asked the opinion of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization. She said that some of the impacts of the 2025 tariffs may only be felt this year - but that AI represents a bright spot. She also talks us through how trade is evolving, and explains why the planet needs a nimble multilateral system that can cope. The World Economic Forum’s Chief Economists Outlook periodically polls some of the planet’s leading experts for their opinions on the economic landscape and their predictions for the year ahead.