interoperability
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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
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The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) recently published a study titled “The Potential Use of Blockchain in International Trade and its Facilitation” (International Trade Series No. 188, 2025). The report highlights how blockchain technology can reshape cross-border trade by fostering transparency, traceability, and efficiency in global supply chains. A Disruptive Technology… Read more
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The European Union’s Global Gateway (GG) has been presented as the Union’s flagship initiative to mobilise up to €300 billion in sustainable infrastructure and connectivity investment worldwide between 2021 and 2027. More than four years into its implementation, however, the strategy still faces the challenge of moving from political ambition to practical delivery. A recent… Read more
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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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India’s Landmark Maritime Overhaul: Understanding the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025
India has entered a new era of maritime governance with the enactment of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, which received the assent of the President on 18 August 2025. This legislation marks a turning point for the country’s shipping and trade sectors, as it replaces the Merchant Shipping Act of 1958, a law that had… Read more
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EU Businesses Scramble to Recalibrate Supply Chains Amid Global Trade Turmoil
Brussels, June 27, 2025 – Faced with rising global trade tensions and escalating geopolitical uncertainty, European Union businesses are scrambling to adapt their supply chains, according to a new report from the European Investment Bank (EIB) released today. The report, “Shock Waves from Turbulent Times: How EU Businesses Recalibrate Supply Chains,” reveals that EU companies… 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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Europe’s Single Market Strategy: Building a Simple, Seamless, and Strong Economic Home in an Uncertain World
In a time of growing geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and global competition, the European Single Market remains one of the EU’s greatest achievements and most powerful tools for ensuring prosperity, stability, and resilience. With an impressive €18 trillion GDP, representing nearly 18% of the global economy, the Single Market serves as the backbone of Europe’s… Read more
