interoperability
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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 on governments and businesses to modernise the world’s trade corridors, making them faster, cheaper, and more sustainable. The report outlines a vision for a paperless,… Read more
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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 — it is trust and coordinated implementation. Digital trade facilitation is rapidly becoming one of the most important directions of global economic policy. Around the… 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 the United Nations. The Agreement will enter into force for Thailand on 15 January 2026, marking a major milestone in the country’s long-term digital trade… 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 Staff Working Paper titled “Great Expectations: Quantifying the Potential Economic Impact of the WTO Agreement on E-Commerce” (ERSD-2025-06, authored by Eddy Bekkers, Javier López-González, and… Read more
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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 cognossement) in maritime transport. The aim is to align Dutch law with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), thus creating legal equivalence… 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 security, privacy, and public confidence. DIACC argues that Canada must avoid overly centralized control and instead promote architectures where the user owns and controls their… Read more
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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 developed to provide member states with a unified and modern legal framework that removes barriers to the legal recognition of electronic documents and digital processes.… 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 document brings together insights from 96 separate submissions and distills them into a strategic vision for Europe’s future digital trade ecosystem. What is EUTIR? The… Read more
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Digital Assets, Electronic Trade Documents, and the Challenge of Private International Law
In June 2025, the Law Commission of England and Wales published Consultation Paper No. 273 on Digital assets and (electronic) trade documents in private international law, including Section 72 of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882. The paper addresses one of the most pressing questions in modern commerce: how should cross-border disputes involving blockchain, crypto-tokens,… Read more
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Unlocking Europe’s Financial Data Future: Insights from the FiDA Debate
The European Union’s proposed Financial Data Access Regulation (FiDA) is emerging as a cornerstone in the ongoing transformation of Europe’s financial markets. The regulation aims to establish a comprehensive framework for data sharing across the financial sector, building on lessons from PSD2 and aligning with broader initiatives in open finance, digital identity, and the EU’s… Read more
