Ensuring students have a clear understanding of trading patterns across the world is an important topic in A2 Macroeconomics, and having the latest data at your fingertips will certainly be an important tool for both teachers and students.

There are two main sources of data, both from the WTO, that I always make use of in my lessons on trading patterns. Firstly, I split the class into groups and each one has trading data from a different country . They have to identify the key issues and then present them back to the rest of the class (I often get the students to make posters). The second piece of data I use from the WTO is referred to as their 'highlights' of world trade. For this we have a general class discussion about what the key trends in trade on a worldwide scale are- using these very colourful booklets , which I always print out and insist the students keep safe as a useful reference tool. Enjoy!