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 forms, duplicate certificates, in-person signatures, and complex manual inspections. These practices created high transaction costs, slowed supply chains, and placed small businesses at a disadvantage. According to the report, digitalisation and paperless procedures have reshaped trade by speeding up transactions, broadening what can be traded and by whom, and making global commerce more inclusive.
Digital tools have reduced trade costs by nearly 5 percent worldwide since the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement came into force. In regions such as Southeast Asia and Central America, single window systems—like those in Singapore and Costa Rica—demonstrate the efficiency gains of automation. Where governments adopt paperless solutions, global exports can increase by up to 18 percent, boosting competitiveness and resilience.
Opening Doors for SMEs and Women Entrepreneurs
The digital shift is not only about how trade is conducted, but also about who participates in it. Online platforms, e-payments, and electronic permits make it possible for small firms and women-owned businesses to access global markets with fewer barriers. Parcels cross borders more efficiently, enabling micro-enterprises to scale internationally. The report stresses that this transformation has been particularly significant during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when digital channels became the primary link to customers abroad.
Policy as the Enabler
Technology alone does not guarantee success. The report underlines the importance of coherent, forward-looking policies that enable the cross-border exchange of data and ensure interoperability of digital systems. Lowering barriers to data flows and improving domestic frameworks for electronic transactions have been associated with a 37 percent increase in exports. Moreover, ambitious reductions in digital trade barriers could boost global exports across multiple sectors—manufacturing, agriculture, and services—by as much as 53 percent.
To capture these gains, countries need robust legal frameworks for e-transactions, harmonised standards, and cooperation on cybersecurity, consumer protection, and digital payments. International agreements such as the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) already offer a model for embedding digital trade facilitation into binding commitments.
Faster, Cheaper, More Inclusive Trade
The Ten Wins for Trade 2025 report makes clear that going paperless is no longer a futuristic ambition—it is a proven win. Businesses save time and money, consumers enjoy more choice, and supply chains become more transparent and resilient. Importantly, digitalisation enables wider participation in global commerce, helping small businesses, women, and entrepreneurs in developing economies connect to international opportunities.
The Road Ahead
Scaling up digital trade requires political will, international coordination, and investment in digital infrastructure. Policymakers must also address trust issues in cross-border data flows and ensure equitable access to digital tools. If governments and institutions continue to align regulations and foster interoperability, paperless trade can be one of the strongest drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth in the coming decade.
Summary by DigitalTrade4.EU