Source: CCPIT August Regular Press Conference
Release Date: September 1, 2026｜Commerce-Wire Global Economic Desk
The latest monitoring data released by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) shows that the Global Trade Friction Index stood at 102 in June 2026, staying firmly in the high-risk range. Rising trade-restrictive measures across major economies have further intensified uncertainties within the global trading system.
In statistical performance, the total trade value affected by global restrictive policies increased 2.4% year-on-year and surged 11.8% month-on-month. The remarkable month-on-month expansion reflects a sharp short-term growth in trade controls, tariff adjustments, trade remedy investigations and technical barriers, pushing overall global trade risks noticeably higher.
By regional distribution, trade tensions remain highly concentrated. India, the United States, and the European Union recorded the world’s highest trade friction indexes. The United States continues to dominate global trade protectionism through unilateral sanctions, export controls, and tariff probes. For seven consecutive months, U.S.-initiated trade restrictions have ranked first globally, making it the primary driver of current international trade frictions.
At the industrial level, high-tech and advanced manufacturing sectors have become the core battlefield of global economic competition. Electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and mechanical equipment are the most disputed industries. The electronics sector faces the most intensive friction, with chips, communication hardware, and intelligent electronic products frequently targeted by market access restrictions and technological blockades, continuously disrupting global industrial division of labor.
China-related trade tensions also remain severe. Across 19 monitored major economies, the China-specific Trade Friction Index reached 104, exceeding the global average. External restrictive measures targeting Chinese export industries remain frequent, bringing sustained pressure on cross-border orders, overseas market expansion, and global supply chain layouts.
Industry analysts note that global trade conflicts have evolved beyond traditional tariff confrontations. Modern protectionism now focuses heavily on technical barriers, market entry restrictions, industrial exclusion, and supply chain regionalization, demonstrating precise, industry-specific, and long-term characteristics.
Market outlook suggests that policy competition and trade frictions will continue throughout the second half of 2026. Global export enterprises are advised to strengthen diversified market layouts, multi-region production arrangements, and comprehensive risk response mechanisms to hedge ongoing external uncertainties.