The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 found that globalization remains at a record level despite geopolitical tensions and rising tariffs, with the global connectedness index holding steady at 25%. The report shows that global trade expanded strongly in 2025—driven in part by AI-related goods—while average trade distances reached record highs, indicating that globalization has not shifted toward regionalization. At the same time, economic ties between the United States and China continued to weaken, with their bilateral trade falling to about 2% of global trade, though most countries maintain broad international partnerships and global trade is still expected to grow about 2.6% annually through 2029.