How digital connectivity affects global trade and inequality

A new coalition of dynamic economies, led by Singapore, the UAE, and New Zealand, is set to launch the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT-P), a multiregional initiative aimed at bolstering rules-based trade and digital economy cooperation. The group is expected to include around ten countries spanning Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe, with potential members like Malaysia, Morocco, Rwanda, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, and Norway under consideration. FIT-P reflects a strategic push by small and medium-sized economies to shape global trade norms and build resilient, tech-forward partnerships. https://lnkd.in/dXxVNSUe #FITP #GlobalTrade #DigitalEconomy #TradePartnership #Singapore #UAE #NewZealand #SustainableGrowth #TradeInnovation #EmergingMarkets #MultilateralTrade #TheFinance360

Resilient Trade Amid Global Uncertainty: How Intra-BRICS Commerce is Shaping a New Economic Order Intra-BRICS trade has emerged as a transformative force within the global economic landscape, embodying a shift towards greater regional integration and South-South cooperation. The strategic realignment of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa aims not only to diversify trade portfolios but also to mitigate dependencies on developed economies by fostering stronger intra-bloc economic collaboration. Over the past few years, intra-BRICS trade has shown remarkable resilience and growth, expanding by 56% from 2017 to 2023 despite widespread disruptions in global trade. This expansion reflects the bloc’s collective drive to bolster economic self-reliance through targeted sectoral partnerships in energy, technology, agriculture, and environmental goods. https://lnkd.in/d6mQhGhN

🌍 A New Trade Bloc Emerges: The Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT-P) As global trade becomes increasingly shaped by bilateral “napkin deals” and protectionist undercurrents, smaller and mid-sized economies are carving out their own path. Singapore, the UAE, and New Zealand along with potential members like Norway, Malaysia, Costa Rica, and Rwanda are preparing to launch FIT-P: a grouping designed to uphold rules-based, open trade. 🔹 Focus areas: Equal treatment for paper & digital trade documents ✍️💻 Confidence-building on digital trade & e-signatures Streamlined cooperation between agile economies Why it matters: FIT-P reflects a “plurilateral” shift — like-minded countries banding together to keep global trade predictable and transparent. It complements other efforts, from the EU–CPTPP cooperation to frameworks like the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). For smaller nations, this is about building resilience when larger powers test the boundaries of the WTO system. As Cecilia Malmström notes, “It shows that many countries want to trade within clear rules and transparency.” ➡️ If successful, FIT-P could become a laboratory for modern trade rules, especially in the digital sphere — and a counterweight to the uncertainty of great-power geopolitics. #Geoeconomics #Trade #DigitalEconomy #FITP #GlobalTrade #Singapore #UAE #NewZealand

🌍 The Future of Trade: Small Nations, Big Shifts The Financial Times recently reported on the launch of the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT-P) — a coalition led by Singapore, the UAE, and New Zealand, with other countries such as Morocco, Rwanda, Malaysia, and Uruguay expected to join. Its focus is clear: strengthening rules-based trade openness and modernising systems by recognising digital trade documents, e-signatures, and paperless processes. On the surface, this looks like a digital trade only initiative. But other emerging frameworks and global initiatives make it clear that the scope will inevitably widen into the sustainability and climate space, laying the groundwork for the economy of the future. • The UN’s Future of Sustainable Trade report highlights that resilient, inclusive trade must integrate sustainability, protect vulnerable producers, and accelerate digital adoption to reduce inefficiencies. FIT-P’s digital focus can enable this shift. • The OECD points out that digital transformation can cut trade costs and unlock more inclusive, sustainable growth if the right governance frameworks are in place. Digital trade rules are not only about efficiency — they are also about reducing environmental impact and enabling low-carbon supply chains. • By giving equal treatment to digital documentation, countries can cut paper use, lower transaction costs, and accelerate cross-border flows — making supply chains both greener and more accessible for SMEs. FIT-P signals how coalitions of the nimble are shaping tomorrow’s trade landscape: digitally enabled, climate-aligned, and ESG-driven. For SMEs, this is the reality of tomorrow’s market access: comply digitally, compete sustainably, and move faster than protectionism. Watch this speave for the soon to be launched Navigator Global. #NavigatorGlobal #SMEs #Trade #Digitalisation #Sustainability #ESG #ClimateEconomy #GlobalProsperity #FutureOfTrade #SupplyChains #Innovation https://lnkd.in/eWpyA7Kr

A strategically elusive group of 14 primarily smaller economies worldwide, many in #EmergingMarkets, have assembled to form the Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership. Member countries include: *:Brunei * Chile * Costa Rica * Iceland * Liechtenstein * Morocco *:New Zealand * Norway * Panama * Rwanda * Singapore * Switzerland * United Arab Emirates (UAE), and * Uruguay Presumably, this collaboration of sorts is in response to the almost punishing new U.S. tariffs schedule initiated earlier this year. Details below. #GlobalBusiness

A strategically elusive group of 14 primarily smaller economies worldwide, many in #EmergingMarkets, have assembled to form the Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership. Member countries include: *:Brunei * Chile * Costa Rica * Iceland * Liechtenstein * Morocco *:New Zealand * Norway * Panama * Rwanda * Singapore * Switzerland * United Arab Emirates (UAE), and * Uruguay Presumably, this collaboration of sorts is in response to the almost punishing new U.S. tariffs schedule initiated earlier this year. Details below. #GlobalBusiness

In this increasingly uncertain and protectionist world, it is very heartening to read in the Singapore Straits Times that on 16th September, 14 countries announced an initiative committed to open, fair trade and enhancing investment flows. Now there's a thing...it might catch on! The Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership was launched alongside a joint declaration in support of a rules-based multilateral trading system, and reaffirming the vital role that foreign direct investment (FDI) plays in developing infrastructure, fostering international trade and enabling sustainable economic growth. The farsighted founding members are Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Rwanda, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay. The members pledged to develop “solutions-oriented initiatives” and their joint statement said: “The partnership seeks to be an “agile platform” for trade-related collaborations; this includes strengthening supply chains, removing non-tariff trade barriers, facilitating investment and integrating emerging technologies.” This comes as well publicised measures that restrict trade now risk fragmenting the global economy, dampening global economic growth and heightening inflationary and unemployment pressures. The FIT statement said: “For small and medium-sized countries that rely on open and fair trade with the world, the rules-based multilateral trading system is vital to our stability and prosperity.” The 14 leaders laid out the following objectives: -affirming the need for principles of open and fair trade, and adherence to the rules-based trading system - support for inclusive growth through enhancing access to resources and technology - addressing contemporary and emerging trade issues ; and - enhancing FDI flows with the aim of fostering greater and more sustainable growth. The FIT Partnership intends to adhere to a set of principles, which include minimising and removing “unnecessary barriers” to trade and investment, promoting transparency and predictability in trade and investment policies, and facilitating a level playing field. It’s hard to argue with any of these, even in the face of narrow self interest. The ministers also outlined 4 priorities: supply chain resilience; investment facilitation; non-tariff barriers and trade facilitation; and recognising trade technology as a horizontal enabler that can enhance progress across its priorities. A set of “concrete initiatives” are expected to be endorsed and announced at the inaugural FIT Partnership Ministerial Meeting from Nov 19 to 21. An important initiative that will hopefully integrate well with the 12 member countries in #CPTPP #internationaltrade #developinginfrastructure #adamsmith

Exciting to see the news overnight of the launch of an innovative new trade partnership for these challenging times: FIT-P, or the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (though it must be said, the group's acronym game could do with some work). The initiative counts 14 members, including New Zealand, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and others from Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa - showing that champions of open, connected and trade-friendly markets know no geographical bounds. This looks set to be another great example of 'concerted open plurilateralism' - a group of dynamic, small-to-mid-size, committed and creative economies demonstrating just what can be done with political will, agility and some great ideas. The Partnership will focus on four key enablers of modern trade and business models: 🌏 supply chain resilience 💰 investment facilitation 🚧 NTBs and trade facilitation 💻 and a welcome cross-cutting focus on tradetech The declaration also includes an important affirmation of these economies' commitment to the multilateral rules-based trading system, an open and fair trading environment, collaborative solutions and multistakeholder approaches. No doubt the business communities of these FIT-P countries will be eager to help co-design practical solutions across all four focus areas. Let's get this snowball rolling! Congratulations to New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Gan Kim Yong, and their twelve colleagues and negotiating teams including New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Alison Hamilton Anna Curzon Sarah Ottrey Brett O'Riley Felicity Roxburgh https://lnkd.in/gQN5wGhb

WTO Public Forum & Private Sector Support for Trade Facilitation Next week I will be attending the WTO’s Public Forum in Geneva. This annual event is a golden opportunity for private sector representatives to engage with members of the WTO, international organizations, NGO’s and academia to discuss global trade issues. A key topic at the event is trade facilitation with panel discussions highlighting flagship projects or discussing regulatory and operational challenges and opportunities. Popular topics include SME’s, Digitalisation and Supply Chains. These are highly relevant topics. However one additional topic that needs to be discussed more frequently is the role of the Private Sector in Trade Facilitation and the benefits that it brings. Recent economic and geopolitical events have meant that donor countries are facing a squeeze on development budgets and coupled with the recent upheaval in global trade, there has never been a more critical moment for the Private Sector to engage. Emerging markets face a particularly challenging time with some regions facing the risk of falling further behind wealthier countries. Governments don’t trade, businesses do, and they have a great deal of knowledge and experience that can drive the necessary investment and support needed to realise the potential that emerging markets have to offer. Rather than reacting to market conditions, businesses can positively influence them by including trade facilitation as part of their growth strategy.  Any company looking to invest in an emerging market should enquire about any trade related development program and see how it can be linked in any way. Trade Facilitation is designed not only to improve processes but to generate an environment that attracts investment and ultimately drives growth. In other words, your planned investment may be exactly what the Donor or target Government is seeking to support.  Actively engaging, not only supports your direct ambition but can drive any ancillary elements such as regulation, infrastructure, development of a local workforce as well as support services. In other words your engagement raises your investment to a much higher and integrated level. So the question is where to look first. Well the flagship model of public and private sector collaboration is the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. As a founding member, I will be on hand to explain all. Curious? Just look me up next week or contact me directly. #Globalalliancefortradefacilitation #TradeFacilitation #Smallbusinesses #ecommerce #tradeandinvestment #

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA (Reuters) Artificial intelligence could boost the value of trade in goods and services by nearly 40% by 2040, but without adequate policies it could also exacerbate #ArtificialIntelligence #GlobalTrade #WTO #TradePolicy #Innovation