In its ongoing efforts to promote regional cooperation to implement cross-border trade digitalization, the Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently participated in the first Paperless Trade Week, which was hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Philippines' participation in the Paperless Trade Week was in line with its commitment to the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA). This UN treaty is a crucial tool in expediting the implementation of digital trade facilitation measures, supporting countries in their transition to less paper and eventually, paperless trade.
The Paperless Trade Week concluded with the Third Sessions of both the Standing Committee and Paperless Trade Council of the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of CPTA. This was a significant platform for assessment and operations Customs officials, including key officers from the Port of Manila and the Manila International Container Port, to engage in enriching discussions and share learnings on crucial issues and solutions for digitalizing international trade processes.
Through the BOC, the Philippines is one of the first five countries to have acceded to the Framework Agreement and actively participated in activities related to its implementation.
The Philippines is set to publish the National Feasibility Study on Cross-border Electronic Exchange of Trade-related Data or Documents this month with support from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
This study assesses the feasibility of implementing electronic exchange of trade-related data and documents between the Philippines and potential partners in the Asia-Pacific region. It also complies with the directives of both the Standing Committee and the Paperless Trade Council of the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of CPTA.
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