Doing business got tougher in 2025: World Economic Forum survey

ZURICH: Companies found it harder to do business in 2025 due to a deterioration in global cooperation on issues including trade, climate, technology and security, a survey published by the World Economic Forum showed on Thursday.

Released ahead of the WEF’s next annual gathering in Davos later this month, the online poll of 799 executives in 81 economies using a McKinsey global survey panel showed 43 percent found doing business got more difficult compared to 2024.

Only 7 percent were of the opposite view, with the remainder saying things had stayed the same or offering no opinion.

READ MORE: World Economic Forum chief warns of three possible ‘bubbles’ in global economy

Nearly four in ten executives indicated growing barriers to trade, talent and cross-border capital flows had made it harder to do business, with only 10 percent of the opposite point of view.

“Undeniably, a series of US tariff announcements in 2025 raised questions about the future of trade,” said the WEF in its Global Cooperation Barometer 2026 report.

US President Donald Trump in April announced a raft of tariffs against the United States’ trade partners, testing global supply chains. Bit by bit, Trump lowered many tariffs as he struck deals with various countries.

The fact that six out of ten executives did not highlight trade problems indicated many have found ways to readjust strategies to navigate the turbulence, the WEF said.

Fully 42 percent saw cooperation on peace and security in decline, compared to 13 percent who saw it improving. In addition, 29 percent saw collaboration over climate and natural resources getting tougher, while 17 percent expressed the view it was improving.