Global trade continued to expand in the first half of 2026 amid rising price pressures, shows the latest Global Trade Update report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Tuesday.
It was reported that global merchandise trade increased by about 12.5 percent to about 13.7 trillion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, while services trade increased by 10.5 percent.
In the six-month period, the combined total of goods and services trade increased by approximately 2 trillion U.S. dollars, and global trade is expected to reach a record high for the entire year.
The report shows that demand for high-tech products such as AI-related products and semiconductors remained strong in the first six months, supporting expansion of global trade.
The UNCTAD said that global trade will still face price pressures, geopolitical tensions, and changes in trade policies.
Global trade continues to expand in January-June amid rising price pressures: UNCTAD
A prominent Japanese constitutional scholar has delivered a scathing critique of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's push to revise the Constitution and strengthen defense policies, warning that her administration is steering Japan toward a dangerous path that undermines the pacifist principles enshrined in the post-war charter.
Masahiko Shimizu, a professor of constitutional law at Nippon Sport Science University, said that the current government's actions represent a fundamental threat to regional stability.
"A person who lacks even the most basic understanding of the Constitution is not qualified to discuss constitutional revision in the first place. I believe that the destabilizing factor in the current Asian situation is the very existence of Takaichi. Particularly because she made the erroneous remarks about 'a Taiwan contingency,' which have caused Japan-China relations to deteriorate further. In this sense, for the sake of achieving peace, I believe she should step down as soon as possible. The Japanese Constitution was drafted on the basis of reflection upon past wars of aggression, with the purpose of never waging war again. Therefore, I believe only someone who upholds this philosophy should serve as prime minister," he said.
Shimizu said that the Japanese government's revisions to the three national security documents, namely the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program, and substantial increases in defense spending are effectively pushing Japan toward becoming a country capable of waging war abroad, a development that must be stopped.
"The real purpose of the current ruling coalition is still attempting to revise Article 9 of the Constitution, hoping to formally possess a military under the constitution. This is absolutely impermissible. Beyond constitutional revision, the Japanese government is also preparing to revise the three national security documents within this year. This is a substantive constitutional revision, meaning that even without amending the constitution, Japan can in fact become a country capable of conducting war. The three security documents precisely embody this point. What can be foreseen at present is that the Japanese government will further enhance its so-called counterstrike capabilities. I believe this trend must be stopped," the scholar said.
Japanese scholar warns Takaichi's policies threaten pacifist constitution
