Paperless Trade

A "digital divide" threatens the global trade regime. And it is not narrowing - it is rapidly becoming an unbridgeable chasm. Nor is this a problem merely for developing countries: the headlong trend toward dematerialisation of trade documents in the developed world will grind to a halt unless all trading countries without exception possess the legal and operational ability to participate in paperless trade.

This challenging work not only describes the obstacles to universal support for paperless trade, but also provides solutions that can be implemented if stakeholders make the collective effort to achieve this most desirable (and in fact necessary) goal. Dr. Laryea investigates such central issues as the following:

• legal problems and security risks not encountered in paper documentation;
• accommodating low-tech problems with electronic documentation; and
• funding the construction of information and communication technology infrastructure in developing countries.

The presentation focuses on each of the essential contract documents in turn, from the quotation to the documentary credit, explaining exactly how the electronic versions of each work (particularly in terms of security), and why each is desirable.

As the first comprehensive set of practical proposals, from a truly global perspective, for the speedy dematerialisation of trade documents, Paperless Trade is essential reading for traders, practitioners, academics, and national and international officials and policymakers engaged in facilitating world trade.