Will AI solve the SME trade finance gap in the next five years?
Published 5 Nov 2026
Small and medium sized enterprises continue to face significant barriers when seeking trade finance, with rejection rates remaining stubbornly high despite growing digital adoption. This publication explores whether artificial intelligence can meaningfully narrow the estimated US$2.5 trillion SME trade finance gap over the next five years, drawing on insights from a debate hosted by Trade Treasury Payments in partnership with the International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA).
Bringing together perspectives from banking, insurance and trade finance specialists, the publication examines AI’s potential to improve efficiency, strengthen risk assessment, expand access to data and support better financing decisions. It also considers the structural, regulatory and capital constraints that technology alone cannot overcome, offering a balanced view of AI’s role in the future of SME finance