ESCAP
Digital and sustainable trade facilitation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2023
This report was Jointly prepared by ESCAP and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The report unveils the findings of the 2023 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, focusing on the progress made in trade facilitation across the 10 ASEAN countries.
Based on an initial set of 31 general trade facilitation measures, the survey uncovers that ASEAN achieved an impressive subregional implementation rate of 81% (compared with 79% in 2021), which significantly surpassed the Asia-Pacific region’s average implementation rate of 67%. The report highlights that significant trade cost reductions could be achieved through the implementation of paperless and cross-border paperless trade measures, surpassing the impact of conventional trade facilitation measures. Full implementation of binding and non-binding measures outlined in the WTO TFA could lead to a reduction in trade costs to just over 3%. On the other hand, the adoption of digital trade facilitation measures, facilitating seamless electronic exchange of trade data and documents across borders, has the potential to significantly reduce trade costs by more than 9% for ASEAN in a full implementation scenario. Building upon existing initiatives and fostering collaboration among ASEAN Member States, the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific offers further opportunities for ASEAN countries to promotetheir own initiatives and solutions as well as support the further advancement of the ASEAN Single Window and ensuring interoperability with other paperless trade systems..
For other reports and the results of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023, please visit http://wwww.untfsurvey.org
Feasibility study on cross-border electronic exchange of trade data : data harmonization and exchange mechanism – NEPAL
This report aims to study the feasibility of and establish a stepwise approach for engaging in cross-border electronic exchange of trade-related data and documents by Nepal with its neighbouring and partner countries. Particularly, it focuses on identifying feasible trade documents and data exchange systems for initiating cross-border electronic exchange of trade data.
The report provides an overview of Nepal’s current status, including legal environments, in relation to the electronic exchange of trade-related data and documents. It also discusses Nepal’s trade procedures in general and with neighbouring countries in particular.
The report notes that collaboration with neighbouring countries to assess mutual benefits and efficiency, as well as the feasibility and action plans for pursuing cross-border electronic exchange of trade data, would be essential to advance cross-border trade facilitation forward.
In order to enable electronic data exchange with partner countries, Nepal needs to be fully aware of the benefits of such activities. Political will and dedication to materializing electronic data exchange are crucial for the implementation of the electronic data exchange system. Nepal may face challenges, such as a lack of experience and experts, in establishing a development plan for electronic data exchange with partner countries. Therefore, Nepal may pursue further capacity development programmes on these issues as well as take initiatives for establishing electronic data exchange mechanisms with its neighbouring countries.
