The WTO director-general warned global trade is facing its most severe test in 80 years as the world fragments, and called for reconfiguring supply chains to ensure resilience. He said repeated tariffs by US President Trump against trading partners have challenged WTO rules and put the 30‑year‑old organisation’s operating model under scrutiny, with many members now viewing existing rules as ill‑fit; production should be diversified away from single geographic locations.

2026-10-08

The WTO director-general warned global trade is facing its most severe test in 80 years as the world fragments, and called for reconfiguring supply chains to ensure resilience. He said repeated tariffs by US President Trump against trading partners have challenged WTO rules and put the 30‑year‑old organisation’s operating model under scrutiny, with many members now viewing existing rules as ill‑fit; production should be diversified away from single geographic locations.