Global trade added a cool $300 billion to the world’s economic scoreboard in the first half of 2025, according to a new UN report. But don’t pop the champagne yet 🍾—experts warn the outlook is as shaky as a TikTok dance trend. 📉
The United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) revealed Tuesday that trade grew by 1.5% in Q1 and is projected to hit 2% in Q2. While services like streaming platforms and AI tech fueled a 9% surge over the past year, physical goods barely moved the needle, with volumes up just 1%. 📊
Here’s the plot twist: price hikes did most of the heavy lifting. Think of it like your favorite bubble tea costing more 🧋—trade values rose, but actual stuff being shipped? Not so much.
Developed economies like the U.S. and EU are stealing the spotlight 🎭, with American imports jumping 14% and EU exports up 6%. But the U.S. trade deficit is widening faster than a K-drama fan’s watchlist, deepening global imbalances. 😬
UNCTAD also called out recent U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum (plus a 10% baseline tariff) as potential triggers for a "trade war sequel nobody asked for." 🚨 With geopolitical tensions and policy rollercoasters, the report warns the rest of 2025 could feel like riding a unicycle on a tightrope. 🚲
TL;DR: Trade’s up, but the road ahead? Buckle up, folks. 🌪️
