UNECE and UNESCAP are jointly organizing a conference during the 41st UN/CEFACT Forum, to present the findings of the 5th UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in 2023 and report the progress and gaps in the UN regions. The conference also aims to explore viable approaches to identify sustainable and digital trade facilitation measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation, for the upcoming 6th UN Global Survey in 2025. Finally, the conference seeks to discuss how UN/CEFACT recommendations and solutions can support such efforts to direct the development of its workplan.

Persisting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical turbulence and high inflation continue to challenge international trade. To help countries reduce the time and cost of trading across borders, UN Regional Commissions and UNCTAD jointly conduct the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation. The Survey aims to support the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, as well as emerging regional and global initiatives on paperless trade or e-trade. It also recommends cutting-edge paperless and cross-border trade facilitation measures, as well as those supporting more inclusive and sustainable trade, targeted at supporting sectors and groups with special needs.

According to the fifth UN Global Survey in 2023 covering 161 countries and 60 measures related to WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement and beyond, countries are continuing to move towards a seamless and efficient trading environment by simplifying and digitalizing formalities in international trading despite these global disruptions. However, the Survey identified the insufficient adoption of sustainable trade facilitation measures and inadequate support for vulnerable groups, including the agricultural sector, Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and women traders.

In addition, to address the growing demand on supporting UN Member States in accelerating actions to adapt to and mitigate climate change with a focus on social and economic resilience in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda, it has become crucial to continue strengthening cooperation on trade facilitation among UN entities, especially for climate change mitigation.

This year, the 70th Session of the Commission of UNECE highlighted the cross-sectoral priority goal of digital and green transformations for sustainable development in the region of the ECE, calling for urgent green transformation to address pressing challenges, including sustainable energy transition and deployment of low carbon solutions, to fight climate change, biodiversity loss, and reduce environmental pressures, with support from digital technologies which are opening up new possibilities for economic development, policy implementation and the management of public services. The 79th session of the Commission of UNESCAP also emphasized the theme of accelerating climate action in Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development, to strengthen regional cooperation on climate change and reduce the risks and impacts of climate change and foster ambitious climate action in Asia and the Pacific towards net-zero pathways and limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.