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WTO cuts its forecast for 2023's global trade growth in half

Oct 6, 2023
The World Trade Organization predicted trade would grow by 1.7% in 2023. It's been revised to 0.8% due in part to stubborn inflation.
The war in Ukraine and the real estate crisis in China have both bogged down global trade.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Could relaxing patents help poorer countries get vaccines faster?

Dec 15, 2020
India, South Africa, and Kenya want to try. The U.S., EU and U.K. aren't interested.
A medical worker administers the Pfizer BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to a doctor at a hospital in Miami on Dec. 15.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Global trade was down 18.5% in May. And that's the good news.

Jun 23, 2020
The World Trade Organization says things could have been far worse.
Cranes stand idle at the nation's busiest shipping port, the Port of Los Angeles. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade halted.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

U.S. criticizes WTO for big disparities in tariffs

Jun 17, 2020
The Trump administration is denouncing the fact that the tax levels vary greatly between members of the global trade body.
An East China Sea container ship in the Port of Oakland in 2018. China's economy has grown 900% since 2001, causing a tariff imbalance.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A year of trade fights and new deals

Jan 3, 2020
2019 was the year the United States began tearing down the rules-based system for international trade in earnest.
China's Vice Premier Liu He, second from right, shakes hands with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing in March during trade negotiations.
Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images

Why China is cutting tariffs on everybody

Dec 23, 2019
It's thanks to something known as "most-favored-nation" status under international trade agreements.
STR/AFP via Getty Images

Few workarounds for a hamstrung WTO

Dec 12, 2019
The WTO’s ability to settle disputes could be damaged for some time.
A red pedestrian trafic light next to the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on December 10, 2019 in Geneva.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

The U.S. hits Europe with a new round of tariffs

Oct 18, 2019
The US argues that Europe illegally subsidizes Airbus, and the WTO is backing its new tariffs. But Europe launched a similar complaint against Boeing.
Imported wine is about to become more expensive.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

EU gave illegal subsidies to Airbus, WTO rules

Oct 2, 2019
The organization has given the U.S. permission to impose tariffs on up to $7.5 billion worth of EU exports per year.
An Airbus A350-1000 is parked on the tarmac in front of the Airbus pavilion at Le Bourget in 2017 during the International Paris Air Show.
Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images

WTO talks! See who's invited! (Not the U.S. or China)

Oct 24, 2018
With the trade feud between the U.S. and China looming, the main goal of the talks is reform.
A man is seen in silhouette leaving the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquaters on September 21, 2018 in Geneva.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images