As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on another year of strong momentum for the DSI. We advanced legal reform, deepened interoperability efforts, expanded industry engagement, and laid the foundations for pilots and adoption at scale - important steps towards a trusted, fully digital global trade system.
As we enter 2026, we look ahead to a year centred on interoperability and real-world implementation. Stay tuned for our January update on what’s ahead.
From all of us at ICC DSI, thank you for your continued partnership and support.
2025 Highlights and Impacts
Progress on Legal Reform
Economies accounting for28% of global exports now operate under MLETR-aligned laws, with another 33.5% of export coming from countries that have committed to align – reflecting the impacts of focused advocacy. We would like to thank all our partners and collaborators, including UNCITRAL, AfCFTA, UNESCAP, APEC, ICC Network and industry partners, for their effort and support that has been critical to this process. See our latest snapshot on global MLETR progress here.
China's revised Maritime Law formally recognising electronic transport records will come into effect in May 2026.
Through the multilateral working group and Legal Reform Advisory Board (LRAB), we continue bridging legal and capacity gaps across stakeholder communities, and look forward to deeper collaborations with ADB, EBRD, ITFC, the World Bank and Afreximbank in 2026.
Advanced KTDDE Implementation Guides (KIGs), creating “universal translators” across 50+ standards and national specifications.
Co-hosted the Digital Trade Transformation Forum with WTO and ADB, bringing together supply-chain leaders and ERP providers to accelerate interoperability. A short video capturing attendee perspectives on digital trade and interoperability is available here.
Supported the Digital Governance Council (DGC), to implement our co-developed product, the Reliability Assessment. A number of companies have taken the assessment and obtained the Statement of Verification. We look forward to expanding the process, including for French and other national requirements.
Tools, Playbooks & Capacity Building
Released three implementation resources:
1. Paperless Trade Pilot Playbook - practical steps and templates for designing and running digital trade pilots.
2. Free Zones as Catalysts for Digital Trade Transformation – guidance for free zones advancing trade digitalisation. Available soon!
3. Digital Trade Readiness Assessment (pilot) – a 60-question maturity model covering management processes, data handling and cybersecurity. Organisations are assessed as Emerging, Established or Advanced. The framework is now ready for testing prior to finalisation. Interested companies and National Committees are encouraged to contact the DSI team.
Co-organised over 18 events across Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, in partnership with ICC National Committees, alongside UNCITRAL, ADB, AfCFTA, UNESCAP, APEC, ASEAN and others.
Pilots, Adoption and the Global Sandbox
Announced the DSI Global Digital Trade Sandbox, a virtual environment connecting ICC-affiliated companies to partners, solution providers, and resources for piloting digital trade. It supports standards alignment, legal readiness, and cross-border interoperability - helping seed the next generation of digital trade corridors. Interested companies should contact their ICC National Committees for further information.
Global eBL adoption reached 11%, supported by strong progress in China. According to the FIT Alliance's 2024 eBL survey, the overall adoption rate - encompassing users of eBLs exclusively or alongside paper BLs - has risen from 33.0% (2022) to 49.2% (2024).
The FIT Alliance (BIMCO, DCSA, FIATA, ICC, Swift) also advanced key initiatives this year, including the interoperability white paper “From Silos to Seamless”, the global eBL survey, and a series of webinars to raise awareness about the benefits of digital trade, promoting interoperable data standards, and harmonising legislative conditions across jurisdictions.
Engagement also deepened across the Industry Advisory Board (IAB) and Legal Reform Advisory Board (LRAB), supported by partnerships with key industry bodies. See the “Insights from the IAB” update below for highlights.
Community and Governance
Strengthened advisory leadership with the appointment of a new vice chair and several new members.
We continue to be strongly supported by the Government of Singapore and look forward to furthering collaboration to drive real-world impact.
A major milestone was ICC’s MOU with the World Bank Group to support SME growth and trade digitalisation globally. DSI welcomes this collaboration and looks forward to expanding joint work in 2026.
Other DSI Updates
ICC Academy - Special Offers for DSI referrals. Save 25% on all ICC Academy certifications - including the Certificate in Digital Trade Strategy (CDTS) - and access the special US$25 rate for the MLETR Foundations course, both extended to 8 December. To redeem either offer, contact ICC Academy.
Insights from the Industry Advisory Board. The recent IAB session underscored both momentum and the challenges of scaling digital trade. Leaders highlighted the need for stronger alignment on trust and identity, clearer evidence of value for businesses and banks, and more sector-specific pathways to adoption. Key themes included: making interoperability practical, ensuring adoption is measurable, targeting engagement effectively, and strengthening trust, identity and data alignment. These priorities will shape DSI’s 2026 agenda.
New DSI Programme Manager. We are pleased to welcome Elizabete Kalnozola, who joined DSI in November as Programme Manager. She will oversee capacity-building programmes across both the public and private sectors and alongside Tianmi Stilphen, support governments with DSI's tools to digitalise cross-border trade and, with Rae Amarullah, co-drive implementation of DSI’s first global digital trade sandbox. Elizabete brings experience in AI, digital transformation and sustainability from roles across Malaysia, Latvia and Switzerland.
Elizabete Kalnozola
Programme Manager
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Kind Regards,
The ICC Digital Standards Initiative team
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