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 transformation agenda.

The CPTA, administered by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), is the world’s only multilateral treaty dedicated to cross-border paperless trade. It provides a legal and technical framework to facilitate trade through digitalization, interoperability, and mutual recognition of electronic trade documents.

A Tool to Drive Trade Digitization

By joining the CPTA, Thailand reinforces its commitment to modernizing trade procedures and reducing the reliance on paper-based documentation. The Agreement promotes:

• Legal harmonization of electronic transactions and data exchange across borders;
• Common technical standards for interoperability between national and regional systems;
• Exchange of best practices through pilot projects coordinated under the CPTA Paperless Trade Council.

These measures are expected to lower transaction costs, accelerate customs clearance, and enhance transparency across supply chains.

Legal Harmonization and UNCITRAL Texts

The legal harmonization pillar of the CPTA relies heavily on the adoption of key UNCITRAL texts, including the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) and the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (ECC).

At its most recent meeting in July 2025, the CPTA Paperless Trade Council formally recommended that member States adopt these UNCITRAL instruments to ensure legal compatibility and trust in digital trade documentation. For this reason, many countries have pursued both treaties in tandem — adopting the CPTA alongside the UN Electronic Communications Convention, recognizing their complementary nature in establishing a seamless cross-border legal environment.

Thailand’s Next Steps

With accession completed, Thailand will move toward implementing national measures aligned with CPTA principles, including:

1. Updating trade-related legislation to ensure legal recognition of electronic documents and signatures;
2. Enhancing interoperability between Thailand’s National Single Window and other regional digital platforms;
3. Participating in regional pilot exchanges of electronic certificates and trade data;
4. Strengthening institutional coordination through the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) and related ministries.

A Regional Signal

Thailand’s accession demonstrates a clear regional signal: digital trade facilitation and paperless processes are becoming essential for competitiveness. As the 15th party to the CPTA, Thailand joins a growing community of Asian and Pacific economies working toward an integrated digital trade ecosystem — one that aligns technological innovation with legal certainty.

Conclusion

“Finally, another tool to bring Thailand forward on international trade digitization and digitalization.” By embracing the CPTA, Thailand confirms its readiness to operate in a fully digital trade environment and to contribute to shaping regional norms on secure, paperless cross-border commerce.

Summary by DigitalTrade4.EU