Global trade policy uncertainty has surged to record-breaking levels in early 2025, driven by abrupt shifts in tariffs, subsidies, and trade restrictions. According to UNCTAD’s Global Trade Update (September 2025), these unpredictable policy moves are jamming supply chains, increasing business costs, unsettling financial markets, and undermining investor confidence—particularly hurting low-income nations and small enterprises. This policy turbulence now clearly exceeds the disruptive impacts of tariffs alone.
The findings underscore the urgent need for stable and predictable trade policies to sustain growth and development through open international trade.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can India and other major trading nations institutionalize frameworks that reduce trade policy volatility, ensuring agility in negotiations while protecting SMEs and vulnerable countries from sudden shocks?
Follow the full news here:
https://unctad.org/publication/global-trade-update-september-2025-trade-policy-uncertainty-looms-over-global-markets
