UNCTAD launches global database to track e-commerce value

UN Trade and Development released a new global database consolidating national estimates of e-commerce value, highlighting that digital sales have expanded significantly faster than GDP across 36 key economies since 2016. The agency's working group warned that persistent data gaps, particularly regarding cross-border trade and social commerce, are undermining effective policymaking for taxation and competition in developing nations. To address this, UNCTAD plans a full review of core indicators in 2026 to better capture modern metrics like AI usage, platform models, and remote work services.