This report highlights the potential direct and indirect economic benefits of the removal of mandatory requirements for paper-based documents in international trade. This report also provides evidence of firms gaining access to new opportunities to participate in cross-border supply chains, agile production processes and innovation in new product design as a result of more efficient freight movements and trade administration arrangements throughout the region.

• Paperless Trading Systems in the Asia Pacific Region
• The APEC Paperless Trading Initiative
• The Building Blocks of Paperless Trading: Domestic e-Commerce Legislation, Authentication and Security
• Private Sector Initiatives
• Progress Toward the Removal of Regulatory Requirements for Paper Documents in Cross-border Trade
• The Cost of Paperwork in Cross-border Trade
• Implications for Regional Trade
• Impact on Competitiveness and Innovation
• Towards a Vision of Seamless Paperless Trading in APEC
• Technical Note
• Glossary
• References