Global Trade

Return to the #109 Newsletter


The global trade system is undergoing profound transformation. Long-standing rules and multilateral frameworks are giving way to a more fragmented, volatile, and strategically contested environment. From geopolitical tensions to AI-driven supply chains, the pace of change is accelerating—and with it, the need for businesses to rethink how they operate and compete.

In this new era of deglobalization, resilience, adaptability, and foresight are no longer optional—they are essential. Business leaders must navigate rising protectionism, shifting alliances, and growing sustainability pressures with both agility and purpose.

This edition of the IESE Library Newsletter offers curated resources, insights, and tools to help you stay informed and proactive in a trade environment increasingly defined by complexity, disruption, and opportunity.

1. Latest Trends on Global Trade

Factiva. Latest News on Global Trade

Factiva. Major News and Business Sources. Trade Barriers/Restrictions in the Past Week

Refine your searches with keywords like: Protectionism and Industrial Policy, Global trade, Reshoring, Nearshoring, Trade policy, Trade tariffs, Trade agreements, Sustainable trade, ESG clauses in trade deals, etc.

Bloomberg. Global Trade

The Economist. Trade

Economist Impact. Trade in Transition 2025

FT.com Trump Tracker. Tariffs & Trade

Global Trade Alert Activity Tracker
Providing the latest updates on trade and industrial policy developments across 70 economies.

Politico. Trade
Latest news, analysis, and commentary on trade policy in Europe and globally.

2. Understanding Trade: Books & Articles

Discovery. Global Trade Search
Search for books and articles on “global trade” at the IESE Library. Use the left-hand facets to refine by topic, publication date or format.

3. Analyzing Trade

  • Strategic Insight Platforms

Global Trade Alert
World’s premier repository of policy changes affecting global trade and investment.

WEF Strategic Intelligence. Trade and Investment
Selection of articles curated by the World Trade Institute (WTI) on trade and investments.

WEF. Trade and Investment
Thought leadership, solutions and analysis on the world’s biggest challenges.

  • International Organization Reports

The European Commission’s Trade Department
Find out about the EU’s trade policies, economic security, and trade relations with the rest of the world.

OECD Measuring International Trade
Provides data, analysis, and tools to understand global trade flows, value chains, and the impact of trade on economies.

OECD Risks and Resilience in Global Trade
Highlights recent developments and disruptions in international trade using detailed and high-frequency data.

OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index
Offers annually updated data (2014–2024) on regulations across 51 countries and 22 sectors, highlighting barriers, reform priorities, and key policy trends up to 2025 in global services trade.

OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators
Help assess how countries simplify trade procedures, enabling comparisons and supporting policy reforms.

UNCTAD. Global Trade Update
Provides timely analysis of recent trends in global trade, highlighting shifts in goods and services flows, regional dynamics, and policy developments.

World Bank. Trade
Trade provides data, research, and policy guidance to help countries improve trade performance, reduce barriers, and integrate into the global economy.

WTO. Trade Barometers
Offers early signals on global trade trends, with leading indicators for goods and services that complement official trade statistics and forecasts.

WTO Regional Trade Agreements Database
Offers up-to-date information and legal texts on all notified regional trade agreements worldwide.

WTO World Trade Report
Aims to deepen understanding about trends in trade, trade policy issues and the multilateral trading system.

  • Consulting, Market Insight and Analyst’s Reports

BCG International Trade

DHL Trade Atlas 2025. Mapping the Shifting Landscape of Global Trade

EY Global Trade Updates

KPMG Trade and Tariff Insights

LSEG (Refinitiv) – Aftermarket Research AMR
Provides access to a range of investment bank reports. Contact the Library for access.

McKinsey Insights

  • Think Tanks & Policy Research

Bruegel. Trade

Peterson Institute for International Economics. Trade

4. Trade Resources

EC. Access2Markets

International Trade Administration. Country Commercial Guides

WB. WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution)

5. Trade Data Platforms

Bloomberg
Access on-site only at the Barcelona Library.
Use functions like ECTR (trade flows), AHOY (shipping) and SPLC (supply chains).

CEPII. BACI. Bilateral Trade Flow

EC Eurostat Trade Data

Euromonitor. Passport
Trade data by country and product, import/export volumes and trends.

US International Trade Administration
Provides trade data, analysis, and tools to support U.S. exporters and monitor international market trends.

LSEG Workspace for Students
Economic indicators, trade flows, company exposure.

Statista. International Trade. Statistics & Facts for quick overviews.
To access the full text, first log in to Statista via this link , then click on the provided link.

OECD Data Explorer

UN Comtrade Database

US Census. International Trade Data

USITC Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb

World Bank. World Trade Databank

WTO. Tariff & Trade Data

  • Trade Flow Visualization

McKinsey. Global Trade Explorer
Visualize flows of trade around the world.

The Atlas of Economic Complexity
Interactive tool developed by Harvard University that visualizes trade flows and economic development through export data and country capabilities.