Analyses
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The recently published report Ten Wins for Trade 2025 highlights ten concrete ways in which international trade has delivered prosperity, growth, and improved livelihoods worldwide. Among these achievements, one of the most transformative—and increasingly urgent—is the shift towards digital and paperless trade. From Burden to Breakthrough For decades, trade transactions relied on paper-heavy processes: physical Read more
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Thailand stands at a pivotal moment in its digital transformation journey. With ambitions to reach high-income status by 2027, the country views the digital economy as a critical driver of growth and resilience. Within this broader ambition, digital trade—the exchange of goods and services enabled by cross-border data flows—has emerged as both an opportunity and Read more
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The APAC State of Open Banking and Open Finance (2025): Landscape, Progress, and Regional Insights
The 2025 report titled “The APAC State of Open Banking and Open Finance”, jointly developed by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) and the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), offers a detailed and comprehensive assessment of how Open Banking and Open Finance (OBOF) are evolving across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Building upon insights from Read more
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Building Europe’s Digital Trade Future: DigitalTrade4.EU’s Vision for eFTI and Beyond
The DigitalTrade4.EU consortium has issued a comprehensive proposal aimed at shaping the future of digital trade in Europe. At the core of its recommendations is the belief that a fully digital, interoperable, and secure Single Market is not only essential for economic growth but also critical for Europe’s defence resilience and sustainability goals. The eFTI Read more
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The UK’s Trade Strategy 2025: A Blueprint for Resilient Growth in a Changing World
In June 2025, the UK government unveiled its new Trade Strategy, a comprehensive plan to steer the nation through an increasingly turbulent global trading environment. In an era defined by geopolitical realignments, rising protectionism, and rapid technological change, this strategy marks a decisive shift toward a more agile, resilient, and pragmatic approach to international trade. Read more
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EU International Digital Strategy: Summary and Recommendations for Businesses and Governments
On 5 June 2025, the European Commission and the EU High Representative unveiled a new International Digital Strategy – a joint vision guiding the EU’s external digital policy. This strategy positions the EU as a stable and reliable partner, open to digital cooperation in a challenging geopolitical landscape. It aims to boost the EU’s competitiveness Read more
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Digital Economy Agreements in Asia and the Pacific: Strategic Insights and Emerging Trends
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) publication “Digital Economy Agreements in Asia and the Pacific” explores how countries across the region are navigating the rapid transformation of trade in the digital era. Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) are becoming critical frameworks for fostering cross-border digital trade, ensuring regulatory coherence, and promoting economic integration in a landscape increasingly Read more
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The Gap Analysis of Cyberlaws in Pacific Small Island Developing States report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is an extensive document that assesses the state of legal frameworks governing the digital economies of 15 Pacific SIDS. Published in 2024, this report provides a detailed examination of how Pacific island nations Read more
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On base report “Trade Finance in Central America and Mexico” trade finance plays a crucial role in facilitating the smooth flow of goods and services across borders. In Central America and Mexico, trade finance is not just a tool for managing risks and securing working capital; it is an essential mechanism that supports the region’s Read more
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International Trade Centre created document “Expediting Trade Through Electronic Bills of Lading” focuses on the growing use of electronic bills of lading (eBLs) in global trade, an innovative digital solution that offers numerous advantages over traditional paper-based systems. It explores the economic, environmental, and security benefits of adopting eBLs, as well as the challenges that Read more
