UNECE and ICC Call to Action

Digital Trade for an Interoperable and Digitalised Global Trade Ecosystem

Digital trade leverages cutting-edge technologies to transform how information and data are exchanged across businesses (B2B), consumers (B2C), governments (B2G), and intergovernmental bodies (G2G). This digital shift enhances efficiency, transparency, and sustainability within global supply chains. Despite the technological advancements, the digitalization of cross-border trade has progressed slower than anticipated.

To accelerate the adoption of globally interoperable data exchange standards essential for comprehensive digital trade, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are launching a "Call to Action for Digital Trade." This joint initiative seeks to unify public and private sectors in adopting standards that ensure seamless data flow and robust digital trade processes.

Submit Your Pledge

Why Digital Trade Matters?

Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlined digital processes reduce transaction times and operational costs.
Increased Transparency: Standardized data exchange fosters greater visibility across supply chains.
Sustainable Practices: Digitalization supports environmentally and socially responsible trade activities.
Global Alignment: Harmonized standards facilitate smoother cross-border trade, benefiting businesses and governments alike.
Financial Inclusion: Digital trade finance processes enhance access to financial services, especially in emerging markets.

About the Call to Action

The Call to Action for Digital Trade is a collaborative effort between the ICC Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) and the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and e-Business (UN/CEFACT), hosted by UNECE. Announced at the 30th Plenary of UN/CEFACT, this initiative builds on the successful ICC Key Trade Documents and Data Elements (KTDDE) framework and the UN/CEFACT Buy-Ship-Pay Reference Data Model.

Key Objectives:

Adopt Existing Standards: Implement globally recognized data exchange standards to unify trade processes.
Drive Interoperability: Ensure seamless data flow across all stages of the supply chain.
Support Sustainable Development: Align with UNECE’s mandate for digital and green transformations under the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

How you Can Participate

Countries, organizations, and stakeholders from both the public and private sectors are invited to respond to this Call to Action by submitting their commitments to adopt digital trade standards. Your pledge will contribute to building a more efficient, secure, and sustainable global trade ecosystem.

For the Public Sector:

Policy Cooperation: Collaborate with other governments to create conducive policies and uniform regulations for digital trade. Legal Alignment: Align legal systems with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) to support digital trade documentation.
Legal Alignment: Align legal systems with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) to support digital trade documentation.
Standard Adoption: Implement globally interoperable standards such as the UN/CEFACT Buy-Ship-Pay Reference Data Model and ISO 7372.
Data Reusability: Enable the industry to deliver reusable data for government processes and support decentralized data exchange initiatives

For the Private Sector:

Standard Implementation: Adopt globally recognized standards and standardized identifiers to enhance trade data accuracy and reliability.
Digital Strategy: Embrace a “digital first” approach for new business services and digitalize trade finance processes.
Standards Collaboration: Cooperate on standards development by aligning data definitions for global interoperability.
Regulatory Collaboration: Work with governments to establish forward-thinking regulations that support digital trade.

Submit Your Pledge

Join us in shaping the future of global trade. Submit your commitment to adopting digital trade standards by 25 November 2024 using the online form below. Your participation will help drive interoperability and digitalization across global supply chains.

Submit Your Pledge

Key Benefits of Participating

Faster and More Secure Trade Processes: Reduce transaction times and enhance data security.
Increased Supply Chain Resilience: Build agile and resilient supply chains capable of withstanding disruptions.
Cost Reduction and Financial Inclusion: Lower trade costs and bridge the trade finance gap, particularly in emerging markets.
Fraud Reduction and Compliance: Minimize fraud and improve regulatory compliance through standardized data.
Support for SMEs: Provide inclusive trade standards that empower small and medium-sized enterprises.

Monitoring and Impact

All committed stakeholders will report their progress bi-annually starting in 2025 to the UN/CEFACT Plenary. These reports will showcase good practices, lessons learned, and inspire further action among policymakers, industry players, and standards organizations.

About International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Digital Standards Initiative (DSI):

A global initiative aimed at accelerating the development of a harmonized, digitized trade environment, supported by an international governance board comprising leaders from the ICC, World Customs Organization, World Trade Organization, Asian Development Bank, and more.

Documents

Join Call to Action to adaptation of digital trade standards

Contact Us

For any queries or additional information, please contact:

Email: [email protected] (copy to [email protected])