Global Digital Trade Development Report 2025

Digital trade expanded from 2020 to 2024 with soaring online orders of goods and services, yet challenges in connectivity, payments, logistics, and compliance remain. Shifts in markets, policy, and technology—along with AI innovations—drive efforts to empower small firms and promote inclusive global trade. This report analyses how digital trade evolved in 2020–2024. It finds robust growth driven by online orders of goods and services delivered over the internet, with participation widening but persistent gaps in connectivity, payments, logistics, and compliance. The report examines shifts in markets, policy, technology, and inclusion, and highlights the influence of artificial intelligence and innovation in online retail. Priorities include helping small firms sell abroad through platforms, expanding services exports, simplifying customs and taxes, enabling secure and interoperable payments and trusted data sharing, strengthening cross-border delivery, and investing in digital skills and finance for women-led and developing-country businesses.