WTO Working Paper: Impact of Digitalization on Trade Patterns
A WTO working paper published on 21 January 2025, written by Eddy Bekkers, Hryhorii Kalachyhin and Robert Teh, looked at the long-term effect of digitalisation on global patterns of trade. The advances in information and telecommunication
See MoreWTO Working Paper: Continuing Significance of MFN Trading Terms
A WTO working paper of 15 January 2025, written by Tomasz Gonciarz and Thomas Verbeet, has the title Significance of most-favoured-nation terms in global trade: A comprehensive analysis. Under the WTO's MFN trading principle, member countries of
See MoreWorld Bank: Global Economic Prospects
The World Bank report Global Economic Prospects was issued in January 2025. The report notes that global growth is projected to remain steady at 2.7% in 2025/26, but this relatively low growth rate will not be sufficient to promote sustained
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IMF: Briefing on the World Economic Outlook
In the briefing on the latest World Economic Outlook on 17 January 2024, the Director of the IMF’s Research Department confirmed that global growth is projected to remain steady at 3.3% in 2025 and 2026. Globally, inflation is expected to decline
See MoreIMF Updates World Economic Outlook
On 17 January 2025 the IMF published the update to the World Economic Outlook, with the subtitle Global Growth: Divergent and Uncertain. The update notes that global growth is expected to remain stable at 3.3% in both 2025 and 2026, below the
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IMF: Speech by the IMF Managing Director at the 2024 Annual Meetings Plenary
On 25 October 2024 the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, spoke at the 2024 Annual Meetings Plenary. The Managing Director noted that inflation has been falling, from 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023, to a projected 5.3% in the
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IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings: World Economic Outlook
The October 2024 update of the World Economic Outlook was launched during the IMF/World Bank annual meetings. The report notes that global growth is expected to remain stable but at relatively low levels. The growth projection of 3.2% in 2024 and
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UN Tax Committee: Tax, Trade and Investment Agreements
On 17 October the UN Tax Committee discussed issues around the interaction of tax, trade and investment agreements. Guidance on tax and investment agreements Following the presentation of draft guidance on the relationship of tax and
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WTO: Global Trade Outlook and Statistics
In October 2024 the WTO published the latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics. In the latest issue the WTO has revised its forecast for world merchandise trade growth in 2024 to 2.7%, which is slightly greater than the previous estimate of 2.6%.
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IMF: Opening speech at the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings
On 21 October 2024 the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva delivered the opening speech at the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings. The global wave of inflation is currently decreasing owing to a combination of resolute monetary
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UN Tax Committee: Environmental Taxation
On 16 October 2024 the UN Tax Committee discussed environmental tax issues. The environmental taxation subcommittee presented some papers to the committee for discussion or approval. Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies A paper on phasing out
See MoreWTO: World Trade Statistics 2023
On 31 July 2024 the WTO launched a new online interactive tool, World Trade Statistics 2023. The interactive tool includes charts of the growth in merchandise trade value and volume, the top 20 exporters in merchandise trade and the growth in
See MoreWTO: World Tariff Profiles 2024
On 25 July 2024 the WTO published World Tariff Profiles 2024, which sets out information on tariffs and non-tariff measures imposed by more than 170 countries and customs territories. The publication is issued jointly with the International Trade
See MoreIMF Report Assesses the US Economy
On 17 July 2024 the IMF issued a report following consultation with the US government under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The US economy has performed strongly in the past few years. Economic activity and employment now exceed
See MoreIMF Issues a Report After Consultations with Canada
On 16 July 2016 the IMF issued a report following the conclusion of consultations with Canada under Article IV of the IMF’s articles of agreement. The Canadian economy has avoided a recession, with GDP growth expected to increase slightly in
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IMF and World Bank annual meetings 2023
The IMF/World Bank annual meetings were held from 9 to 15 October 2023. Improving Tax Capacity in Developing Countries On 15 October 2023, a fiscal forum was held on improving tax capacity in developing countries. The address by Katherine Baer
See MoreG20 Leaders’ Declaration
The Declaration issued by the G20 leaders at their meeting on 9 and 10 September 2023 included the following points: Global Economic Situation The Declaration noted the recent global crises that have posed challenges to long-term growth and
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ASEAN Requests a Review of the Global Minimum Tax
On 19 August 2023, at the ASEAN Economic Ministers' meeting, the Chair of the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council called for a review of the global minimum tax that is being implemented under Pillar Two of the OECD two-pillar international tax
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