WTO Convenes First World Trade & Tech Day to Address Impact of Artificial Intelligence

The World Trade Organization (WTO) hosted its inaugural World Trade & Tech Day, bringing together government ministers, industry leaders, and international delegates to examine the growing intersection between artificial intelligence and global trade. The event drew over 600 in-person registrants and an equivalent number of online participants to discuss policies, supply chains, and regulatory coherence for emerging technologies.

During the event, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the interdependence of international commerce and AI development. Okonjo-Iweala stated that global goods trade volume grew by 4.6% last year, with an estimated 42% of that expansion driven by trade in AI-related products. Emphasizing that international supply networks underpin technological hardware, she noted that semiconductors rely on cross-border design, fabrication, assembly, and deployment across multiple countries.

Okonjo-Iweala outlined existing WTO frameworks that support the sector, including the Information Technology Agreement, the General Agreement on Trade in Services, the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement, and the TRIPS Agreement for intellectual property. However, she observed that these agreements were created before the emergence of modern AI and large language models, expressing hope that discussions from the event would assist in shaping updated policies and international regulatory alignment.

A ministerial dialogue featured representatives from several smaller economies discussing the adoption of AI. Singapore's Minister of Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, stated that governments must assist businesses in seizing opportunities so that AI does not become limited to a few economies. Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, Minister of Industries of Iceland, outlined her country's national AI strategy balancing market access with ethical and security considerations. Additionally, El Salvador's Minister of Economy, María Luisa Hayem, described the use of AI in analyzing trade negotiation impacts, while Jamaica's Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Aubyn Hill, noted efforts to utilize AI to attract investment and build human capital.

Industry participants also presented perspectives on digital transformation. Ren Ito, Co-Founder and Chairman of Sakana AI, discussed autonomous systems managing logistics and procurement, suggesting that the WTO consider an "AI Sovereignty Index" to monitor model dependency risks. William Li, Founder, Chairman and CEO of NIO, addressed how AI integration in electric vehicles is altering manufacturing standards and cross-border automotive supply chains.

The event included deep-dive sessions on topics such as developing country participation in the AI value chain and intellectual property applications in agriculture. In conjunction with the proceedings, 12 organizations shared case studies on AI deployment in areas such as trade facilitation, which have been compiled into a new WTO case study database. WTO Deputy Director-General Johanna Hill concluded the gathering by noting that early policy choices regarding AI will significantly impact future economic inclusiveness and development.

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