1、Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Commonwealth Countries 2023iiChapter 1 IntroductionFOREWORDInternational trade serves as the economic lifeblood for the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth,includingour 19 members that are also part of the United Nations Economic and Social Commissio

2、n for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP).However,businesses,particularly small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs),often face significantobstacles when involved in imports or exports,leading to increased costs and delays in moving goods acrossborders.As our countries strive to restore trade growth and build

3、 inclusive,sustainable and resilient economies forpost-COVID recovery,the role of trade facilitation in an increasingly digital world takes on ever-increasingimportance.By expediting the movement of goods,streamlining bureaucratic procedures and enhancingtransparency in trade processes,we can enhanc

4、e efficiency,stimulate investment and foster economic growth.While trade facilitation is commonly associated with the World Trade Organizations(WTO)Trade FacilitationAgreement(TFA),this joint report between the Commonwealth Secretariat and ESCAP adopts a broader perspective.It analyzes an extensive

5、range of policy measures and actions drawn from the latest United Nations Global Survey onDigital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation.Many of these measures,such as the facilitation of digital trade,sustainable trade,agricultural trade and access to trade finance,go beyond the scope of the WTOs TFA.O

6、ur report underscores a crucial message:the landscape of international trade and transit facilitation in developingand least developed countries is experiencing significant momentum.This is driven by the digitalization of tradeprocesses,the implementation of real-time payment settlement systems and