Why Trusted Digital Trade Matters for Europe
For Europe to remain competitive, the European Commission must move beyond fragmented initiatives and focus on a coherent digitalisation of trade documents. The European Trade Indexes Registry (EUTIR) shows how a single trust infrastructure can replace duplication, reduce costs, and ensure interoperability across the Single Market. A unified approach will not only cut red tape for businesses and SMEs, but also position Europe as a global leader in secure and sustainable digital trade.
Latest news
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Next-Generation Trade Corridors: How Digital Trade Superhighways Are Taking Shape
The global trading system stands at a crossroads. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC United Kingdom) has published its 2025 report “Next-generation trade corridors — Building digital trade superhighways”, calling… Read more
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The Real Barrier to Digital Trade Is Not Technology — It’s Trust
In 2025, most international trade flows still rely on paper documents, even though the technological and legal solutions for paperless trade already exist. The real barrier is no longer technology… Read more
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Thailand Adopts Paperless Trade Treaty – A New Step in Regional Digitalization
Bangkok, 17 October 2025 — Thailand has officially deposited its instrument of accession to the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA) with… Read more
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Global E-Commerce Agreement Could Add Up to USD 8.7 Trillion to the World Economy
Digital trade has grown nearly twice as fast as goods trade over the past decade and is becoming a key driver of global growth. This conclusion comes from a WTO… Read more
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The MLETR and the Dutch Bill No. 36 743: A Step Toward Digital Trade
The Dutch government has introduced Bill No. 36 743, amending Book 8 of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek) to recognize the use of an electronic bill of lading (elektronisch… Read more
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Lessons from BritCard: Why Architecture Matters for Digital Trust and Identity
Digital identity and trust are not just political or legal questions — they are also architectural ones. The UK government’s proposed BritCard system illustrates how design choices can deeply affect… Read more
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The Commonwealth Model Law on Digital Trade and Guide to Enactment (2025)
Digital trade has become a core component of global commerce. Yet, many countries remain tied to paper-based legal and administrative systems. The Commonwealth Model Law on Digital Trade (2025) was… Read more
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Towards a Trusted Digital Trade Framework: Why the European Trade Indexes Registry (EUTIR) Matters
In September 2025, the DigitalTrade4.EU consortium submitted its consolidated feedback to the European Commission: “Towards a Trusted Digital Trade Framework: The Role of the European Trade Indexes Registry (EUTIR).” This… Read more
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ISO 20022 Exceptions and Investigations Migration: Strategic Relevance for the EU Financial Digitalisation Agenda
The migration of exceptions and investigations (E&I) handling to ISO 20022 standards between 2025 and 2027 is often described as a technical upgrade for payment infrastructures. In reality, it is… Read more
Position Papers
Strengthening the Digital Omnibus through unified trust, interoperability, and legal certainty across digital trade and sustainability… [Read more]
Connecting digital trade, sustainability, and crisis readiness through a single trust framework… [Read more]
A vision for modern trade governance that empowers people, creativity, and sustainability… [Read more]
Interesting videos
SOURCE: ODI GLOBAL
Developments in the implementation of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol
SOURCE: ESCAP
Trustless Cross-border Data Validation: The Role of Verifiable Credentials and APIs
SOURCE: TRADE POLICY RESEARCH FORUM
Digital Trade and Development
Digitalising Trade Finance for Europe’s Future
Shared podcast discusses a European initiative to accelerate the digitalisation of trade finance, focusing on the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises due to the significant financial gap in the current system. It highlights the benefits of digitalisation, such as reduced errors, increased efficiency, and enhanced security.
The discussion emphasizes the need for legal harmonization and international standards, supported by the new European Union eIDAS 2.0 regulation and recent French law adopting UNCITRAL’s Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR).
The role of a European Union Trade Services Governance
Ensure the existence of secure technological solutions accessible to the whole ecosystem, especially banks and businesses.
Foster the European TradeTech ecosystem, the solutions of which are often mature and can help achieve the goals of the reform.
Support the creation of a conducive framework for digitalisation of international trade documents at European Union level, notably when it comes to certification and management of open and interoperable ledgers.
Ensure that technical standards and requirements are clear and normative, as with PSD3 / PSR on payments, eIDAS 2 on digital identity and trust services, or e-FTI on electronic information on the transport of goods.
Technology and EU Legislation
eFTI Regulation
Digitalising the exchange of freight-related information between businesses and public authorities. It focuses on making data sharing more efficient, reducing paperwork, and improving communication in the transport and logistics sectors.
[Read more]
eIDAS 2.0 Regulation
The regulation introduces a European Digital Identity (EUDI), allowing EU citizens, residents, and businesses to have a secure and universally accepted digital identity. This can be used for identification and authentication in a range of services, such as trade, banking, healthcare, education, and more.
[Read more]
PSD3 & PSR Regulation
The third Payment Services Directive (PSD3) and the Payment Services Regulation (PSR) are new proposals from the European Commission that significantly alter the European payments market framework. These changes will affect banks, fintechs, payment service providers, and customers both legally and operationally.
[Read more]
Drive Digital Trade Innovation
110
Full Partners
Trade Associations, Logistics Providers, Shipping Lines, Banks and Insurances, Technology Innovators, Competent Authorities, etc.
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from European Union countries
France, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Slovenia, Denmark, Bulgaria
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from non-EU countries
Norway, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Montenegro, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, India, Nepal, Canada, United States of America, Cameroon, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Pakistan, Nigeria, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uganda
Join with our consortium DigitalTrade4.EU to be part of a community shaping the future of European supply chains through innovation and collaboration.