AI Boom, Data Centers Could Lift 2026 Trade Says WTO | The Pulse 1/23

Posted on 01/23/2026
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The head of the World Trade Organization said the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence may underpin global merchandise trade this year, helping overcome US tariff headwinds and lead to higher overall growth than currently projected.

About 42% of the rise in goods trade in 2025 stemmed from AI investment — including computer hardware, software and other equipment needed to build infrastructure like data centers. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO director-general, spoke with Bloomberg Television on Friday.

Today's guests: Hélène Landemore, Yale University Professor; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General; Enoch Godongwana, South African Finance Minister; Samantha Cristoforetti, European Space Agency Astronaut.

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"The Pulse With Francine Lacqua" is all about conversations with high profile guests in the beating heart of global business, economics, finance and politics. Based in London, we go wherever the story is, bringing you exclusive interviews and market-moving scoops.



Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Pulse with Francine Lacqua

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00:02:12 - US, Ukraine & Russia due to meet for talks in UAE

00:03:55 - EU rethinks relationship after Trump threat

00:05:47 - Trump: US will have "total access" to Greenland

00:06:15 - Geopolitics Roundtable: Yale's Hélène Landemore & Bloomberg's Chad Thomas

00:17:52 - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Trade Organization Director-General

00:25:21 - Noch Godongwana, South African Finance Minister

00:32:03 - Larry Fink not worried about AI bubble

00:34:41 - Fink on asset allocation amid geopolitical tensions

00:37:09 - Samantha Cristoforetti, European Space Agency Astronaut

00:44:57 - Musk see space exploration cost to drop dramatically

00:46:49 - Trump & Greenland dominates Davos

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