GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – The World Trade Organization will convene its first World Trade and Tech Day on September 14 at its Geneva headquarters. The gathering will bring together trade officials, technology policymakers, business leaders and other participants. Its theme, “AI and Trade: Turning Potential into Progress,” will guide discussions on artificial intelligence and global commerce. The agenda will focus on policies that expand access to AI tools while supporting more inclusive international trade.
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will open the event with welcoming remarks. A ministerial dialogue will examine why artificial intelligence has become a major trade policy issue. The program will also include a keynote address and a discussion with private-sector representatives. Speakers will address digital services, intellectual property, technical standards and the role of developing economies in AI-related value chains. The sessions will link technology policy with the practical demands of cross-border business.
The World Trade Report 2025 will provide a key reference point for the meeting. WTO modelling found that artificial intelligence could increase global trade by up to 37% by 2040. It also estimated that global gross domestic product could rise by as much as 13%. The scale of those gains depends on infrastructure, skills, technology adoption and policy conditions. The report also found that unequal access could limit participation across lower-income economies.
Trade policy takes center stage
Several sessions will examine how AI can lower the cost of international trade. Participants will review tools that help companies process documents, manage compliance and analyze supply chains. The agenda will also cover digitally delivered services and the treatment of intellectual property. Another session will consider how technical standards can support compatibility across markets. These topics reflect the growing use of AI in customs, logistics, finance and other trade-related services.
The program will also address barriers that prevent wider use of artificial intelligence. Many businesses still lack reliable connectivity, computing capacity, skilled workers and affordable financing. Smaller companies often face added legal and technical challenges when entering digital markets. The WTO’s small-business group examined those issues during a June discussion on AI and trade. Participants reviewed how new tools can improve market research, reduce costs and strengthen access to trade information.
Practical AI tools enter the discussion
World Trade and Tech Day will feature an exhibition of artificial intelligence applications for international commerce. A pitching session will highlight tools designed for companies, public agencies and trade organizations. The demonstrations will connect policy debates with practical uses of the technology. Organizers plan to show how AI supports supply-chain analysis, regulatory work and access to market data. The format will give participants examples of systems already serving trade-related functions.
The September 14 event will take place at the World Trade Organization’s headquarters in Geneva. Its program will combine ministerial discussion, business input, policy analysis and technology demonstrations. The meeting will focus on artificial intelligence, trade costs, digital services and economic participation. It will also examine the infrastructure and skills needed for broader adoption. Registration and online participation details appear on the official event page.