The report presents the results of the 2021 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation for 10 ASEAN countries that reviewed the progress of trade facilitation reforms. It provides a detailed analysis based on 58 trade facilitation measures covering both binding and non-binding WTO TFA measures, as well as measures beyond the scope of WTO TFA.

The report suggests that most trade cost reductions are associated with paperless trade measures rather than conventional trade facilitation measures. Full Implementation of binding and non-binding WTO TFA measures could decrease trade costs by 2.6%. On the other hand, digital trade facilitation measures enabling the seamless electronic exchange of trade data and documents across borders will help to significantly reduce trade costs by more than 8% for ASEAN in a full implementation scenario. Adding to existing initiatives and collaboration among ASEAN Member States, the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific could provide ASEAN countries with opportunities to promote ASEAN initiatives and solutions as well as support further development of the ASEAN Single Window for interoperability with other paperless trade systems being developed in other parts of the region and world.

The report was jointly prepared by ESCAP and the ASEAN Secretariat.

For more reports, please visit untfsurvey.org