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WTO Warns U.S. Tariffs Could Cut Global Trade 20%

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 11:49 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned the U.S. tariff war could split the global economy into hostile trading blocs.
She said the tariffs could cut global GDP by 7%.
WTO modeling predicts further retaliation could collapse global trade by 20%.
A WTO overhaul could generate $3 trillion in new output by 2050.
The EU invited Canada as its first associate member after a 50% U.S. tariff on $20 billion of goods.

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Story summary

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned the U.S. tariff war could split the global economy into hostile trading blocs.
She said the tariffs could cut global GDP by 7%.
WTO modeling predicts further retaliation could collapse global trade by 20%.
A WTO overhaul could generate $3 trillion in new output by 2050.
The EU invited Canada as its first associate member after a 50% U.S. tariff on $20 billion of goods.