Geopolitics and trade Trade, as it has been known since the post-World War II era, is changing. As policy-makers and business leaders grapple with changes ranging from a rapidly shifting geopolitical situation to the growth of frontier technologies, navigating new challenges and opportunities is vital to supporting trade, and with it, domestic and global growth. Amid this, the Forum is facilitating real-world change, supporting partnerships and accelerating solutions. Global Cooperation Barometer The second edition of the Global Cooperation Barometer was released ahead of the Annual Meeting 2025 to measure the state of international cooperation. Rooted in rigorous data and analysis, the barometer quantifies the level of cooperation broadly and across five pillars: trade and capital, peace and security, innovation and technology, climate and nature, and health and wellness. In offering leaders clear insight into where collaboration thrives – and where gaps exist – it serves as a vital guide for developing strategies for bolstering collaborative approaches in today’s more competitive geostrategic context. The barometer’s practical recommendations for identifying pathways towards cooperating on shared interests draw on lessons from the private sector, where businesses have developed approaches for simultaneously strengthening their own competitiveness while collaborating with market rivals on issues like climate action. Development of the barometer during the reporting period included the launching of an advisory board, composed of experts from the Forum’s Global Future Council Network, and consultation with stakeholders from across Forum communities. As geopolitical pressures persist, the barometer is emerging as a crucial tool for leaders seeking to strengthen global partnerships and advance collective solutions in the year ahead.Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) marked its 10th anniversary in 2025. Over the past decade, it has supported 26 projects in 25 countries, engaging 2,000 local micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). These efforts have helped unlock over $213 million in savings for traders. The alliance’s mission is to simplify trade procedures, particularly in developing countries, where significant barriers still hinder the movement of goods across borders. At the heart of each alliance project is a public-private partnership model, enabling collaboration between governments and businesses to co-create tailored trade reforms. These initiatives often focus on streamlining processes around the movement of goods such as manufacturing inputs, foodstuffs, medical supplies and humanitarian aid, ensuring cross-border trade is safer, faster and more inclusive. During the reporting period, the alliance advanced reforms to simplify customs and border procedures in over 25 countries, including Guatemala, Cambodia, Morocco, Senegal and Ukraine, aligned with World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) commitments. It convened local and international stakeholders to design impactful solutions, aiming to reduce clearance times and costs while expanding access to trade for MSMEs. A consortium of global organizations leads the alliance, with support from the governments of Canada, Germany, Sweden and the European Union – all committed to promoting inclusive, sustainable economic development through improved trade facilitation. Learn more here Learn more here Annual Report 2024-2025 Our Impact13

Annual Report 2024 2025