The US, the world’s largest importer, has put in place its highest tariffs for more than a hundred years. The suddenness of the increase was unprecedented, and the markets' reaction was fierce. Reactions from the rest of the world and knock-on effects will continue to play out over an extended period.
What is certain, however, is that we have entered a new era for international commerce. The turmoil will see many businesses go to the wall and new firms and business models emerge. Technological innovation will play a major role in this as entrepreneurs search for an edge amid rapid change.
The precise tariff profiles announced last week may not last, but sizeable trade diversion and supply chain reorganisation are already baked in. However, the interconnected complexity of today’s global value chains is such that accurately predicting outcomes and plotting strategies is daunting.
Artificial intelligence systems have emerged over the last few years to deal with exactly such situations of vast unstructured data sources, non-linear causality and fuzzy outcomes. They will be working in overdrive to help trading businesses keep a grasp of the unfolding context. This will be a defining test of AI’s ability to cope with epochal shifts, rather than making inferences within well-established parameters.
AI’s most visible application will be in handling the trade processes where it has already begun to gain a foothold. New tariffs mean more data handling needs and new trade compliance obligations. The move away from “most-favoured nation” principles of common tariffs, largely irrespective of source country, forces businesses to keep far better track of the origin of all components along the supply chain. Indeed, the ability to cope with a dense thicket of rules will become a source of competitive advantage at the expense of direct productive efficiency.
Priced out of the US and potentially other traditional markets by defensive safeguard measures, many firms will search for new supply and demand opportunities. Beyond helping with the arduous task of screening for new partners and commercial opportunities, AI will be important in making these new trade flows viable.
A far greater barrier to trade flows than most tariffs, after all, is the cost, hassle and uncertainty of shepherding goods from A to B across one or more national borders. While relatively streamlined, or at least manageable, for large-scale flows between mature markets, the administrative burden is often prohibitive for trading with smaller, less-developed economies.
Trade facilitation efforts to overcome these frictions are, in many cases, vital to more fully connect frontier economies to global markets. Digital tools are central to these efforts.
Starting with one of the most impactful early applications of AI – machine translation – tools are making it feasible for smaller exporters and importers to navigate the sometimes Byzantine pathways of trade interfaces.
Far beyond tariff and customs requirements, completing a trade transaction may mean dealing with the universe of trade finance, metrology organisations, plant health certifications and myriad other hurdles. AI is beginning to take a bite out of this non-standardised, semi-digitised smorgasbord of tasks that aspiring traders face.
Untouched, at least initially, by the new US tariff regime, is the fast-growing arena of digital services trade, and within it, the international roll-out of AI itself. This may yet be embroiled in trade disputes, perhaps through retaliatory digital services taxes, intellectual property changes, or other regulations.
Optimistically, focused attention on global trade will improve collaboration on cross-border aspects of AI governance, but it is perhaps at least as likely that collaboration is temporarily at risk.
Fair and transparent adoption of AI in trade demands that we look carefully at governance issues, including data access, end-user adaptability of AI models and their interoperability with diverse regulatory systems. Regional inclusion in governance decisions is needed, along with consideration of minority languages, for which training data may be sparse. Clear accountability rules are needed for managing potential machine-generated errors and hallucinations.
Various international frameworks for AI governance have been advanced, among them the G7-driven Hiroshima AI policy framework. This considers risks and opportunities, provides guiding principles for all actors in the system and a code of conduct for developers.
A dynamic hub of trade and finance such as the UAE faces a disruptive period of opportunity from the shifts in global trade. Abundant solar power for energy-hungry AI and emerging technical prowess in this field spice the mix.
Sean Doherty is head of international trade and investment and a member of the executive committee at the World Economic Forum
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Power: 710bhp
Torque: 770Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
On sale: now
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
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