The United Nations has released a guide to help Asia-Pacific countries transition from paper-based certificates of origin to digital systems, boosting trade efficiency and security.
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) unveiled “A Guide for Digital Proof of Origin Implementation,” which outlines practical models for electronic proof of origin—from simple PDF certificates to advanced blockchain-based systems—and provides a roadmap for national initiatives and regional cooperation in digital trade.
The Guide supports the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA), a UN treaty that entered into force in 2021. As of February, 15 countries, including Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Uzbekistan, have acceded to the framework.
Certificates of origin certify a product’s “economic nationality,” helping customs authorities determine duties, apply trade agreements, and enforce regulations. The Guide covers traditional certificates issued by government authorities, self-issued certificates by producers or exporters, and declarations of origin included on invoices or other commercial documents.
It addresses both preferential certificates, which enable tariff benefits under free trade agreements, and non-preferential certificates, used for quota administration, anti-dumping, or trade statistics. Paperless models include web-based certificates, bilateral or multilateral data exchanges like the ASEAN Single Window, and exporter- or importer-based self-declarations. Countries can adopt multiple models simultaneously, depending on their trade agreements.
The Guide also recommends prioritizing liberal solutions in line with World Customs Organization (WCO) guidelines, which encourage self-certification by producers and exporters to reduce compliance costs and increase usage rates while respecting domestic business environments.