Promoting the Utilization of Paperless Trade Platforms in the Post COVID-19 Era

As trade volume and importance grow across APEC, improving efficiency—particularly through paperless trade platforms—has become critical to sustaining growth. Research shows that digital trade facilitation reduces trade costs, thereby boosting cross-border trade activity. This study addresses a gap in the literature by gathering firsthand evidence from exporters regarding the use of public and commercial paperless platforms across eight APEC economies. Key findings reveal significant variation in economies' readiness to adopt paperless trade. The study concludes with five recommendations, organized under two pillars: strengthening the business case for paperless trade and fostering interoperability within the paperless trade ecosystem.