This report provides a detailed analysis of the latest developments in world trade, focusing on the most recent trends in goods and services trade and the participation of developing economies in world trade. The publication also looks ahead to future developments. The analytical chapters are complemented by a statistical appendix containing over 60 tables providing detailed data on trade by region and sector. The publication serves as an invaluable reference tool for researchers, policy makers and anyone interested in international trade.


The 2019 edition provides comprehensive information on the tariffs and non-tariff measures imposed by over 170 countries and customs territories. It is a joint publication of the WTO, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Tariff data are presented in comparative tables and in one-page profiles for each economy. Statistics on non-tariff measures by country and by product group complement the data on tariffs. The publication also includes as a special topic an analysis of how least-developed countries (LDCs) make use of preferential tariffs offered by trading partners for products exported by LDCs.


The annual Trade Profiles covers key data on both trade in goods and services. Each profile provides the most important indicators for trade in goods, including major imports and exports, and a breakdown of trade in services. Data is provided in a handy double-page format for each of the 180 economies covered by the publication. Tabular data is complemented by charts illustrating the key information.

Also available in French and Spanish.


World Tariff Profiles 2018 provides a unique collection of data on tariffs imposed by WTO members and other countries. It contains summary tables showing the average tariffs imposed by individual countries as well as more detailed tables for each country, listing the tariffs it imposes on imports (by product group) and the tariffs it faces for exports to major trading partners. The profiles show the maximum tariff rates that are legally "bound" in the WTO and the rates that countries actually apply. Co-published with ITC and UNCTAD.

Also available in French and Spanish.


The 2020 edition provides comprehensive information on the tariffs and non-tariff measures imposed by over 170 countries and customs territories. It is a joint publication of the WTO, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Tariff data are presented in comparative tables indicating, among other things, the average "bound" or maximum tariff each economy may apply to its imports and the average tariff it applies in practice. A one-page profile for each economy provides more detailed data, with tariffs broken down by product groups and trading partners.

A summary table providing selected indicators on the imports and exports for each country and customs territory is also included. In addition, the publication provides statistics on non-tariff measures, such as safeguards and anti-dumping measures, used by WTO members.

The special topic for this edition is market access to medical goods related to COVID-19.


The 2020 edition looks into the latest trends in global trade, with an in-depth analysis of trade in goods and services and in value-added terms. It points to the major changes in recent years, highlighting the leading traders, the best-performing regions, the most traded goods and services, and the performance of least-developed countries. The publication also looks into the impact of COVID-19 on global trade and the outlook for 2020.

In an introduction to the publication, Director-General Roberto Azevedo says: "The WTO plays a critical role in compiling and analysing trade data. While the ongoing pandemic represents a dramatic break with nearly all recent economic trends, the fact remains that patterns in global trade offer useful insights for what the future may hold."

The report looks into the shifting patterns in global trade across a range of sectors, pinpointing areas that have seen major changes in recent years. These include trade in renewable energy goods, such as solar panels and electric cars, and trade in plastics. It also focuses on the impact of trade tensions in sectors such as iron and steel and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in areas such as tourism.

The report's analytical chapters are complemented by 65 tables providing a detailed breakdown of various aspects of merchandise trade and trade in commercial services.

The merchandise trade data in the report was compiled in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) while commercial services data was jointly produced with UNCTAD and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in cooperation with the United Nations Statistics Division.