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AI Surges, Global Economy Defies Trade War Fears
2 Dec
Summary
- Global economy shows resilience despite trade barriers and uncertainty.
- AI investment and data center construction are significantly boosting growth.
- Tech sector buoyancy underpins global trade and production growth.
The global economy has displayed notable resilience throughout 2025, confounding expectations of a significant slowdown. Secretary General Mathias Cormann highlighted that while trade growth moderated, the impact of higher tariffs is expected to gradually increase prices, potentially dampening household consumption and business investment.
However, surging investments in artificial intelligence and the construction of data centers, particularly in the US, have increasingly influenced economic forecasts. The OECD noted that the dynamism of the tech sector has bolstered global trade, with technology production growth outpacing other industries.
According to OECD estimates, without the significant boost from AI investments, the US economy would have experienced a contraction of 0.1% in the first half of 2025. This surge in technology-related capital expenditures has offset negative impacts from policy uncertainty and tariffs.
