Connect UN Comtrade (Trade Statistics) to Codex
Query UN Comtrade (Trade Statistics) directly from Codex. Arlet links the two through one MCP connection and takes care of API keys.
This server connects your AI client to the UN Comtrade API (comtradeapi.un.org), the United Nations Statistics Division's database of official international merchandise trade statistics reported by 200+ countries and areas since 1962.
Tools:
- get_trade_data: imports/exports (USD value, net weight) by reporter, partner (0 = World), HS code (TOTAL / AG2 / AG4 / AG6 or specific headings), flow (M / X / RM / RX) and period (annual YYYY or monthly YYYYMM).
- list_reporters / list_partners: numeric M49 codes with names and ISO codes, filterable by name.
- search_hs_codes: HS commodity codes by code prefix or English keyword.
Access: without a key the public preview API is used (limited rows per call, about one request per second). Registering at the UN Comtrade Developer Portal gives a free subscription key (Free APIs product); set it as COMTRADE_SUBSCRIPTION_KEY to use the full data API. Every response names the source (UN Comtrade Database) for attribution.
How to connect UN Comtrade (Trade Statistics) to Codex
- 1
In the Arlet dashboard, open Data tools, find UN Comtrade (Trade Statistics) and switch it on. No API key setup is needed.
- 2
In your terminal, run codex mcp add arlet --url https://mcp.arlet.dev/mcp/ to add Arlet as an MCP server.
- 3
Codex detects OAuth support and opens your browser. Sign in with Google and click Allow on the consent screen.
- 4
Once connected, both the CLI and the IDE extension can call Arlet tools (the configuration is shared).
If the browser does not open, run codex mcp login arlet to redo the authentication.