Commonwealth Secretariat flags AI’s role in WTO trade talks ahead of June 2025 summit
The Commonwealth Secretariat has spotlighted artificial intelligence as a key tool for improving World Trade Organization negotiations. The 56-nation group says AI can help developing countries better integrate into global markets and boost sustainable trade.
AI tools like machine learning and natural language processing could speed up preparing negotiating positions, analyzing outcomes, and enhancing multi-party talks. Benefits include modeling negotiation scenarios, improving translation, and providing real-time data insights. These advances could make WTO processes fairer and more transparent, especially for poorer members. 
The Commonwealth will discuss AI’s trade impact at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting and Business Summit in Namibia, June 18–20, 2025. Leaders will explore digital innovation, investment, and supply chain issues while tackling challenges facing developing countries.
Barriers remain high for AI adoption: poor internet and power infrastructure, funding gaps, data privacy concerns, and bias risks in AI tools. The Secretariat stresses that closing the digital divide is vital to help all members compete fairly in trade negotiations.
On the balance between tech and humans, the Secretariat cautions that AI should assist—not replace—human negotiators who provide political insight and ethical judgment.
Collin Zhuawu, Acting Head of Multilateral Trade, said:
"AI presents a real opportunity to strengthen WTO trade negotiations and boost the participation of developing countries.
As the Commonwealth prepares to engage on these issues at the highest levels in Namibia, now is the time to invest in capacity, infrastructure, and cooperation, ensuring all members can benefit from the digital transformation shaping the future of global trade."
Sources linked by the Secretariat provide deeper analysis, including Abad 2024, Fan and Qiang 2024, and the WTO’s own report Trading with Intelligence (2024).
The upcoming Commonwealth meetings will be a critical moment to push AI-driven digital trade efforts forward—if infrastructure and policy hurdles can be overcome.
