Artificial Intelligence for Efficiency Sustainability and Inclusivity in TradeTech 2025

Introduction: AI’s potential as a trade technology Artificial intelligence (AI) could contribute $19.9 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with the potential to reshape international trade dynamics.1 This report, Artificial Intelligence for Efficiency, Sustainability and Inclusivity in TradeTech, maps the most dynamic areas of AI-driven change in trade. By examining concrete examples across supply chains, logistics, trade finance and customs, it evaluates how AI adoption can create a more efficient, sustainable and inclusive trading system. AI technology offers extraordinary possibilities. It enables trade participants to coordinate at unprecedented scales and opens new ways for businesses, regulators and entrepreneurs to solve complex challenges together. Some experts believe that once organizations fully embrace AI’s potential to transform work practices, including through reskilling their labour, there could be a significant boost in global productivity.2 Fully embracing the potential of AI across the trade ecosystem can result in AI convergence, under which cumulative real trade growth in goods and services would increase by 13.6 percentage points, with uniform benefit across economies. AI divergence, or a fragmented implementation of AI, would only increase cumulative real trade growth by 9.3 percentage points and would concentrate gains, exacerbating inequality.3 AI divergence could lead to the creation of “trade islands” – AI-driven centres where trade flows become concentrated due to the enhanced efficiency and cost savings enabled by AI.AI is expected to add $19.9 trillion to the global economy by 2030, inevitably impacting global trade. 13.6 percentage points Cumulative real trade growth in goods and services under the successful implementation of AI in trade 5 Artificial Intelligence for Efficiency, Sustainability and Inclusivity in TradeTech