"The world trading system was built for interdependence, not overdependence, and we see now overdependence on maybe the US for markets and on China for critical supplies," Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization, told DW at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Okonjo-Iweala also highlighted the potential benefits of artificial intelligence in global trade, citing studies predicting a nearly 40% boost by 2040. However, she warned that without equitable adoption, other regions risk being left behind China and the US.