COMMENT | HERBERT KAFEERO | Just weeks ago in Maputo, African trade ministers took a step the continent has too often postponed: defining a common position before others define it for them. The February 26, 2026 meeting was a focused effort to consolidate Africa’s priorities ahead of the World …
Read More »Global trade growth to slow in 2026 with further pressure from Middle East conflict
GENEVA | Xinhua | The World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Thursday that global trade growth is set to slow in 2026 after a stronger-than-expected performance in 2025, warning that the ongoing Middle East conflict could add further pressure on global trade. In its latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics …
Read More »‘EU, US, shouldn’t beat us at World Trade Meeting’
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As the 14th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference approaches next month in Cameroon, Ugandan civil society leaders are urging African governments to speak with one voice in defending the continent’s trade interests. At a consultative meeting in Entebbe, Jane Nalunga, executive director of …
Read More »Barriers endure in African digital trade, say WTO, World Bank
E-transactions regulations typically require secondary legislation setting out the government bodies or private entities that can issue digital signatures, the report explains NEWS ANALYSIS | JENNY MESSENGER | The results of a digital trade initiative in Africa show the continent has made progress, but barriers to paperless trade persist, according …
Read More »AI could boost trade by nearly 40% but tech and policy gaps remain – WTO
In 2023 alone, the WTO estimates that the global trade in these AI-enabling products reached a staggering $2.3 trillion TECHNOLOGY | AGENCIES | AI could boost global trade by almost 40% by 2040, according to a new report from the World Trade Organization, though the benefits can only be shared …
Read More »US tariffs will make global trade shrink, says WTO
The world trade body previously expected global goods trade to expand by 2.7% in 2025 but it now forecasts it will fall by 0.2% ANALYSIS | CHARLOTTE EDWARDS | The World Trade Organization (WTO) has forecast that global trade will fall this year because of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. It …
Read More »Ggoobi engages WTO chief Zhang on digital transformation, 10-fold growth strategy
Secretary to the Treasury, Ggoobi meets multinational coffee merchant Tamari in 2-day visit to Geneva Geneva, Switzerland | THE INDEPENDENT | Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ramathan Ggoobi has expressed gratitude to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for its continuous support to Uganda. He highlighted the …
Read More »WTO chief economist sees China as an important driver of global trade
GENEVA | Xinhua | Chinese economic recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic will be an important factor in driving world trade growth, said Ralph Ossa, chief economist of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in a recent interview with Xinhua. On Wednesday, the WTO published the 2024 edition of …
Read More »Uganda’s trade amidst changing global trends
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Several African countries are on the way to being declared middle-income economies, with the declaration of some coming sooner than Uganda’s, amidst major disruptions in global trade. These disruptions include the reorganization of trade routes and partnerships due to the geopolitical situations in Eastern Europe, …
Read More »China formally accepts WTO Agreement on fisheries subsidies
Tianjin, China | XINHUA | Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted the instrument of acceptance for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in north China’s Tianjin Municipality on Tuesday. The submission means the Chinese side has completed its domestic legal procedures …
Read More »
The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price