International Trade Platform and the Digital Agenda

A regional or national trade platform administered by a government for international trade is a single point of access for businesses to obtain information and services related to international trade. These platforms typically offer a variety of features, including:

• Trade data and statistics: Users can access information on trade flows, tariffs, and other trade-related data.
• Regulatory information: Users can learn about the import and export regulations of different countries.
• Online trade services: Users can submit trade documents, obtain permits, and make payments electronically.
• Trade matchmaking tools: Users can connect with buyers and sellers in other countries.
• Support services: Users can access training, technical assistance, and other support services to help them with their international trade activities.

Governments administer these platforms to facilitate international trade and reduce the costs and complexities for businesses. By providing a single point of access for information and services, governments can help businesses to save time and money, and to comply with trade regulations.

Here are some examples of regional and national trade platforms administered by governments:

• Trade Single Window (TSW): A TSW is a single electronic platform that allows businesses to submit all of their trade documents to a single government agency. The agency then forwards the documents to the relevant government agencies for processing. TSWs have been implemented in many countries around the world, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
• National Trade Portals: National trade portals provide businesses with a single point of access to information and services related to international trade. These portals typically offer a variety of features, including trade data and statistics, regulatory information, and online trade services. Examples of national trade portals include the U.S. Export Assistance Center and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.
• Regional Trade Platforms: Regional trade platforms are similar to national trade portals, but they serve multiple countries. These platforms can help to facilitate trade between countries in the region by providing a common platform for businesses to access information and services. Examples of regional trade platforms include the ASEAN Trade Repository and the MERCOSUR Trade Information System.

Governments are increasingly investing in trade platforms to support international trade. These platforms can play a significant role in helping businesses to access new markets and to grow their exports.

Benefits of using a regional or national trade platform

There are a number of benefits to using a regional or national trade platform, including:

• Reduced costs and complexity: Trade platforms can help businesses to save time and money by providing a single point of access for information and services. This can reduce the need to interact with multiple government agencies, which can be costly and time-consuming.
• Improved compliance: Trade platforms can help businesses to comply with trade regulations by providing them with access to the latest information on regulations and by streamlining the trade process.
• Increased efficiency: Trade platforms can help businesses to operate more efficiently by automating tasks such as document submission and payment processing.
• Improved market access: Trade platforms can help businesses to access new markets by providing them with information on trade opportunities and by connecting them with buyers and sellers in other countries.

Overall, trade platforms can offer a number of benefits to businesses of all sizes. They can help businesses to reduce costs, improve compliance, operate more efficiently, and access new markets.