Global trade faces sharp rise in tariff measures, WTO report finds

A sharp rise in new tariffs has pushed the value of global goods imports affected by trade restrictions to its highest level in more than 15 years, even as governments also introduced a significant number of measures aimed at easing trade flows, according to the World Trade Organisation.

The WTO’s latest annual overview of developments in the global trading environment shows that goods imports worth US$2.64 trillion between mid-October 2024 and mid-October 2025 were hit by tariffs and other import measures. This figure represents 11.1 per cent of global imports and is more than four times the US$611 billion reported in the previous 12-month period.

When similar measures on exports are included, the total value of affected trade rises to US$2.97 trillion.

Trade restrictions surge worldwide in 2025

Despite the increase in restrictive actions, WTO members and observers also introduced 331 new trade facilitating measures on goods during the same period. These covered an estimated US$2.09 trillion in trade, around one and a half times the value recorded a year earlier.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo Iweala said the surge in tariffs reflects “increased protectionism” since early 2025, noting that nearly one-fifth of global imports are now covered by tariff measures implemented since 2009, up from 12.6 per cent last year. She added that the simultaneous rise in actions supporting trade suggests that members “continue to see value in maintaining smooth cross-border trade flows”.

WTO economists forecast merchandise trade growth of 2.4 per cent in 2025 followed by 0.5 per cent in 2026. Growth in the first half of 2025 was driven by frontloaded imports, strong demand for AI-related goods and resilient trade among many developing economies.

The organisation also reported that members initiated an average of 32.3 trade remedy investigations per month during the review period. Although slightly below the 2024 peak, the figure signals continuing pressure in sectors reliant on anti-dumping and other defensive tools. The average number of terminated trade remedy actions fell to 11.4 per month, one of the lowest levels since 2012.

On services, 124 new measures were introduced. Most aimed to facilitate trade or modernise regulation and applied across multiple sectors. Around half impacted services delivered through commercial presence abroad while a quarter related to the movement of professionals.

The report notes rising use of general economic support measures, particularly in environmental, energy and agricultural sectors, along with increased engagement in WTO committees where members continued to raise concerns over each other’s policies.