Artificial
Intelligence (AI) has a dual impact on international trade dynamics: on the one
hand, it enables the widespread deployment of AI technologies in global value
chains, enhancing productivity, efficiency, and innovation; on the other hand,
it poses significant regulatory challenges and opportunities for the WTO
framework, which governs the trade of goods and services. Thus, the
applicability of WTO provisions to AI has raised doubts from a textual
perspective within the WTO framework. The proliferation of AI technologies in
global trade presents a myriad of legal challenges, including issues related to
dichotomy of goods and services, public morality exception, cross-border data
flows and liability issues in AI-driven trade. Existing WTO agreements often
lack specific provisions addressing AI, leading to ambiguity and inconsistency
in legal interpretation. Moreover, the rapid pace of technological advancement
outpaces the ability of legal frameworks to adapt, exacerbating the problem.
The purpose of this study is to analyse the legal complexities arising from the
integration of AI into WTO agreements and to propose potential solutions for
addressing these challenges.