WTO总干事：明年关税措施仍对对贸易构成压力

Core Viewpoint - The Director-General of the WTO, Iweala, stated that tariff measures will continue to exert pressure on trade in the coming year, despite previous tariff increases and the suspension of several tax measures from April to August, which have delayed their impact into the latter half of this year and into next year [1] Group 1: Trade Impact and Growth - Tariff measures are still putting pressure on global trade, with expectations of continued effects into next year [1] - The world merchandise trade volume is expected to grow stronger than anticipated in the first half of 2025, with a year-on-year increase of 4.9% [1] - North American imports saw a year-on-year increase of 13.2% in the first quarter, driven primarily by pharmaceuticals and precious metals, particularly gold [1] Group 2: Factors Driving Trade Growth - Importers are placing orders in advance to prepare for potential future tariff increases or retaliatory measures, contributing to record-high inventory levels in the U.S. [1] - There is a significant surge in demand for AI-related products, including semiconductors, computers, servers, and manufacturing equipment, to support ongoing capital investments in AI [1] - Trade between other regions, particularly South-South trade, continues to grow, with South-South trade volume increasing by 8% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, compared to a global trade growth of only 6% during the same period [1]