The recent announcements by ICE Digital Trade (formerly essDOCS) and IQAX enabling interoperability for electronic transferable documents represent a significant step forward in the digital transformation of trade finance. These developments allow electronic bills of lading to be seamlessly transferred across approved systems, reducing complexity and fostering efficiency across global supply chains. Why is this… Read more
As countries progress in their digital transformation journeys, establishing trust in digital interactions becomes increasingly vital. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a critical enabler of secure and trustworthy electronic transactions, constituting a key component of a country’s digital public infrastructure. This policy note focuses on how governments can effectively implement PKI at a national level—complementing… Read more
Digitalisation has significantly changed how international trade is conducted, both via the use of digital platforms to facilitate the exchange of non-digital goods and services, as well as through the increase in digitally deliverable exports, including financial and professional services, and mobile apps and content. The impact of digitalisation of trade is of particular significance… Read more
Digital technologies have affected international trade relations and what is traded across borders, giving rise to digital trade. Digital trade has become an important part of international trade discussions, requiring specific policies and measures at different regulatory levels. Together these are referred to as digital trade governance. Good digital trade governance aims to enable cross-border… Read more
In a transformative move for global trade finance, Trafigura, in partnership with ING and 27 other lenders, has successfully executed a $2.885 billion borrowing base facility using electronic Bills of Lading (eBL) as collateral. This pioneering transaction demonstrates the growing influence of digitization in trade finance, supported by the UK’s Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA),… Read more
At Sibos 2024 in Beijing, industry leaders convened to discuss the accelerating digitalisation of global trade. A notable session featured Ben Arber, CEO of Complidata, in conversation with Pamela Mar, Managing Director of the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Their discussion centered on the transition to paperless trade finance… Read more
On December 6, 2024, the Council of the European Union approved conclusions regarding the European Commission’s White Paper titled “How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?” This approval underscores the EU’s commitment to advancing secure, resilient, and high-capacity digital infrastructures across member states. Key Highlights: These conclusions align with the EU’s broader objectives of achieving… Read more
The clearance of goods to enter a market is often considered a balance between facilitating and controlling. The latter is checking that the goods are compliant with all relevant rules and regulations, corresponding to legitimate regulatory objectives. This may include consumer health and safety, safeguarding the environment, compliance with social norms or aiming to achieve… Read more
The UNCITRAL Negotiable Cargo Documents framework is designed to modernize and harmonize the legal rules governing documents used in the transport of goods, particularly in international trade. These documents, commonly known as bills of lading, play a crucial role in shipping by serving as evidence of the contract of carriage, a receipt for the goods,… Read more
A bill designed to address access to both customer and business data, this legislation aims to regulate services that involve using information to determine and confirm facts about individuals. It also focuses on the recording, sharing, and maintaining of registers concerning apparatus located in streets. Additionally, the bill outlines the management and upkeep of registers… Read more