Publications

Across disciplines and economies, there is broad agreement: trade is good. In our digital era, digital trade is opening new opportunities for economies to play to their strengths. For example, digital trade significantly lowers barriers to entry, enabling small businesses in remote areas to access global markets through online platforms, bypassing traditional constraints like costly logistics and physical infrastructure. This inclusivity allows economies to leverage their unique strengths—whether it's niche products, specialised services, or digital innovation—to compete on a global stage.

With recent advances in bilateral Free Trade Agreements, regional digital economic agreements, and the first-ever WTO digital trade rules published in July 2024, global commerce is entering a transformative era. The challenge now is to evolve domestic regulations and international collaborations to maximise Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) participation. How can these developments empower MSMEs to thrive in the global economy? The summary by Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA) shed light on understanding  the challenges and opportunities in cross-border trade and payments.

This summary is published by Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA).