Digital Trade

Overview

How can we ensure technology drives innovative, inclusive, efficient, and responsible trade growth in the digital era?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution – associated with rapid technological change and digitalization – has already had a profound impact on the way we trade. Digital trade in services is among the most dynamic sectors in the global economy and could be further harnessed for the recovery process, as evidenced by the role of digital payments and cross-border data flows in response to COVID-19. However, despite the tech development, barriers to digital trade continue to exist. Those include outdated rules and regulations, new forms of protectionism, and the lack of international collaboration on global digital governance, to name just a few.

To navigate the opportunities and challenges associated with digital trade, the Digital Trade team engages the foremost political, business, cultural, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas on digital trade.

Portfolio Projects

TradeTech

The TradeTech project maps the nexus between emerging digital technologies and international trade and facilitates discussion on public policy and regulatory practices on digital trade.

Digital Payments Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee convenes principal-level meetings to drive greater interoperability and inclusivity, as well as more coherent regulatory reforms for digital payments.

Trade Finance

The Trade Finance project explores ways to close the $1.7 trillion trade finance gap and harness the use of new trade finance-relevant technology to boost inclusion and sustainability.

Cross-Border Data Flows

In collaboration with the Data Policy team, the Cross-Border Data Flows project examines the ever-changing impacts of data transfer mechanisms and promotes greater interoperability among global arrangements on this novel governance issue.

Digital Economy Agreement Leadership (DEAL) Group

The DEAL Group aims to create a level playing field with digital economy stakeholders and contribute to the growth of inclusive and sustainable digital economies around the world.

Highlights

WEF-UAE TradeTech pilot partnership

During the 2023 Annual Meeting, the United Arab Emirates announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Economic Forum on TradeTech to pilot the application of emerging fourth industrial revolution technologies that can help facilitate trade.

WTO-WEF joint publication on TradeTech

In April 2022, a joint publication was launched with the World Trade Organization to facilitate the development of explicit rules through trade agreements and provide legal certainty on emerging issues related to the digital field. Read more about the impact of this project in the report “The Promise of TradeTech: Policy Approaches to Harness Trade Digitalization.” The webcast of the launch event is available here.

Payments to Advance Growth for All (PAGA)

In July 2021, a joint project was launched with the Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB) to promote greater utilization of digital payments in Latin America and the Caribbean. Read more about the impact of this project in the report "Accelerating Digital Payments in Latin America and the Caribbean."

Facilitation 2.0 Papua New Guinea

In November 2020, funded by the Government of Australia, a project was to assist Papua New Guinea in advancing business-driven reforms at the intersection of trade facilitation, investment, e-commerce, and digital payments. Read more about the impact of this project in the report "Facilitation 2.0: Trade and Investment in the Digital Age."

Digital Economy Agreement Leadership (DEAL) Group

In July 2022, the inaugural DEAL Group workshop on “Accelerating ASEAN’s Digital Economy Integration” convened stakeholders from governments that have signed DEAs or are interested in signing DEAs, the private sector, civil society, and academia to identify digital economy opportunities and challenges, and the role DEAs can play in the ASEAN region and beyond.

How to get involved?

E-mail us to find out how you can make a difference.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum projects may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

TradeTech

Digital Payments Advisory Committee

Cross-Border Data Flows

Trade Finance

Digital Economy Agreement Leadership (DEAL) Group

Featured: Trade & Investment

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Further reading

Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation streamlines international trade

Here’s how emerging economies are investing in their digital future

For inclusive growth, leaders must embrace a global and open economic future

What do China’s data export regulations mean for its trade competitiveness?

How Japan is moving towards a cashless society with digital salary payments

Digital economy agreements are a new frontier for trade – here's why

How investing in trade finance can be profitable and help SMEs thrive

5 policy frontiers of 'TradeTech': how global coordination can unlock more efficient and inclusive trade

Will digital services remain in the vanguard of the global trade recovery?

3 ways digital currencies could change global trade

How to improve digital economy regulation through increased transparency

5 ways to ensure trust when moving data across borders

5 ways to advance digital trade in the post-COVID world

Can governments agree on global data flows? Here are 6 recommendations

Trade in digital services is booming. Here’s how we can unleash its full potential

How digital payments can help countries cope with COVID-19, other pandemics: Lessons from China

How digital investment can help the COVID-19 recovery

How the new EU data strategy could affect trade and competition

It's getting harder to move data abroad. Here's why it matters and what we can do

Five ways to increase trust in e-commerce

Davos participants call for digital trade deal

These 5 technologies have the potential to change global trade forever

How online commerce can help fight inequality

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