The objective of this article is to disseminate relevant experiences from 2025 that offer lessons applicable to the modernization of international trade, a process that involves countries around the world. According to the latest UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, the average global rate of Adoption reaches 70,4%, with the Southeast and East Asia region leading among developing countries (1).
In this context, the SARIC (South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity) training course stands out. This is a regional initiative funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Its objective is to strengthen infrastructure, connectivity, and trade facilitation between Australia and South Asian countries (2).
According to information provided by the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the program successfully brought together policymakers, customs authorities, and logistics experts to analyze the challenges and opportunities of digital trade.
Regional cooperation
One of the key lessons is that the future of trade will depend on the ability of "governments and the private sector to work together, adopt global standards, and build inclusive, secure, and digitally connected supply chains."
The comprehensive digitalization of customs and trade It does not depend solely on technology, but also on “solid legal frameworks, complete digitalization of the supply chain, political and private support, and effective coordination between national and international agencies.”.
Notable Australian initiatives include:
⦁ Simplified Trade System (STS)
⦁ Go Global Toolkit
⦁ Digital Trade Accelerator Program (DTAP)
⦁ Regulatory reforms such as the Regulatory Sandbox, Streamlined Cargo Intervention Model (SCIM) and the S system
These advances were made possible thanks to "the constant and structured collaboration between government and the private sector," facilitated by entities such as the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF).
Regulatory innovation
The Single Window remains key, but experts point out that it must evolve towards more flexible and interoperable models. This is why proposals such as theThe Digital Trade Certificate or “Commercial Passport”, a secure, real-time credential that can streamline regulatory compliance, reduce fraud, and serve as a global trusted platform.
According to the same source, these certificates could be implemented gradually, incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart contracts, and blockchain, with the goal of standardizing processes and ensuring unfalsifiable records. However, barriers remain, such as infrastructure and governance gaps in developing countries, as well as institutional resistance even in advanced economies like Australia.
Therefore, a hybrid approach is proposed that combines current infrastructure with innovative solutions.
In the short term, it is recommended:
- Moving forward in API-based systems, that is, platforms that allow different software systems to automatically connect to exchange information and automate trade and customs processes.
- Adopt global standards such as GS1, which unify the identification of products, documents, and locations worldwide, facilitating the interoperability and reliability of information in international supply chains.
In the long term, the development of a global standard for digital certificates, supported by international frameworks such as the MLETR (Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records) of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) could transform international trade. This standard would allow electronic documents to have the same legal value as physical ones, in addition to promoting interoperability and improving transaction efficiency.
Latin America: progress and challenges
While Australia and East Asia are making rapid progress in trade digitalization and coordination, our Latin American region also continues to make progress in implementing its Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) commitments, with a remarkable regional average of 73%. However, the UN warns that progress remains uneven, as much room for improvement remains in "paperless and e-commerce."
All Latin American countries have joined the TFA, so border coordination is no longer optional. The TFA (Art. 8) requires genuine cooperation between customs and agencies: aligned schedules and procedures, shared facilities, and joint controls to reduce friction. The WCO translates this into an operational framework (the Compendium of Coordinated Border Management) with ready-to-use standards and practices.
MERCOSUR made progress: CT No. 2 led a Coordinated Border Management project in 2024–2025 with support from the World Bank/PROCOMEX, identifying “quick wins” (low-cost and rapid implementation measures (30–120 days)) in key steps. It is time to move from diagnosis to implementation: joint teams, APIs in single windows and integrated control protocols in ACIs. Reading the article “Presentation of the MERCOSUR Coordinated Border Management Report in Argentina” and the respective report is recommended to delve deeper into the aspects mentioned.(3)
Australia's experience demonstrates that digitalization, inter-institutional coordination, and the adoption of global standards are essential to improving trade efficiency. Leveraging these advances in our region is important to avoid falling behind more advanced economies.
As the shared experience rightly points out: “Although private industries are leading the adoption of new technologies, the responsibility for driving regulatory reform, harmonizing standards, and aligning with international frameworks, such as the WCO Data Model, ultimately falls on governments.
This message is relevant in the context of the tariff review and calls on governments to prioritize digitalization, coordination, and the adoption of global standards; or at least, we can all contribute to making this happen.
Aduana News thanks Eduardo Leite for his generosity in sharing the information and Héctor Juárez for his valuable comments prior to the publication of this article.
Highlighted
- https://aduananews.com/facilitacion-del-comercio-digital-y-sostenible-la-onu-revelo-la-encuesta-2025-y-el-desempeno-de-america-latina/
- https://www.unsw.edu.au/news/2025/08/rethinking-logistics-trade-digitalisation
- https://aduananews.com/presentacion-del-informe-gestion-coordinada-de-fronteras-mercosur-en-argentina/
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