Newsletter | July 2026

Dear colleagues, members and partners,

This month, DSI continued to advance trusted digital trade through strengthened governance, new implementation tools, technical collaboration and international engagement. Highlights include Governance Board and Industry Advisory Board discussions on the next phase of the interoperability agenda, the launch of the Digital Trade Navigator and NCD Tracker, and ongoing work with governments and industry partners to support legal reform and implementation across key markets.

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Industry

Governance Board. The DSI Governance Board met for the second time this year to review progress on DSI's interoperability agenda, including the organisational structure and membership needed to support its delivery. Discussions will continue in person over the coming weeks to shape the technical and industry working group(s) that will support the agenda and ensure the governance structure is fit for the next phase of implementation.

Industry Advisory Board. The Industry Advisory Board met for the second time this year to review progress across DSI's workstreams and discuss how the Board's membership and focus should evolve to better support the interoperability agenda. Further updates will be shared as these arrangements are confirmed.

ERP and IT Infrastructure programme. DSI continues to expand engagement with ERP and IT infrastructure providers, as well as other platforms that generate trade document data. The KTDDE framework is being translated into practical requirements that technology providers can implement, with pilot projects now being scoped to test the approach end-to-end.

Digital Trade Navigator. On 24 June, DSI launched the Digital Trade Navigator, an online platform offering practical guidance, learning resources and technical tools to help businesses prepare for digital trade adoption. The platform is available through an initial open access phase until the end of July, after which access will be extended to all ICC members globally.

Legal

NCD Tracker now live. DSI, in partnership with UNCITRAL and UNESCAP, has launched the NCD Tracker to monitor global progress towards ratification of the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents (NCD Convention). Hosted alongside the MLETR Tracker, the tool provides governments, businesses and international organisations with a transparent view of implementation progress, supporting wider adoption of paperless trade. The tracker was also featured during a dedicated session at Paperless Trade Week 2026 as a practical resource to support implementation of the Convention.

ETR Guide under ASEAN-UK EIP. A key milestone under the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP) is the upcoming release of a guide on Electronic Transferable Records (ETRs), developed from seven cross-border use cases spanning transactions across Singapore, Thailand, China, the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi), the United Kingdom, Africa and Europe. Requested by an ASEAN Member State, the guide demonstrates practical applications of electronic Bills of Lading, Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, and Warehouse Receipts, while identifying key barriers to scale, including interoperability across platforms and jurisdictions, broader statutory recognition, and legal fragmentation in cross-border trade.

DSI Updates

DSI featured in Global Trade Review (GTR). In a recent interview with GTR, DSI Managing Director Pamela Mar discusses DSI’s efforts to advance trusted digital trade through legal reform, interoperability, and standards adoption. She also shares perspectives on addressing digital trade fragmentation and accelerating the adoption of digital trade worldwide. Read the full interview here.

Kind Regards,

The ICC Digital Standards Initiative Team