DECA Digital Trade Update

Since becoming a Director at DECA, I felt it incumbent on me to bring more awareness to the good work required – and being actioned – in the areas of digitalisation of international trade, an area that most of you would be aware I have been very focused on these last few years. As you might appreciate, with half of Australia’s wealth interdependent on exports and imports, it really is a keystone for our national interests – and with increasing web3 utility, we can expect a host of verticals to be significantly ‘upgraded’.

As we move into Q2 2026, the digital economy continues its rapid evolution, with jurisdictional digital asset frameworks solidifying – even our own. Web3 institutional adoptions are accelerating, and technologies are transforming Traditional Finance – now clearly trickling down to SMEs and infrastructure players in trade digitalisation, compliance, and customs. These shifts are delivering greater inclusivity, efficiency, and transparency across the board, as illustrated in the rollout of Phase 1 of AUDC’s AUDDapt program, with Trade settlements in focus.

Globally, 2026 is proving to be the inflection year for blockchain in trade finance and trade digitising processes. Web3-framed decentralised ledgers are delivering immutable records and smart contracts that streamline cross-border transactions, slash costs and risks – all the while Legal Entity and Ultimate Beneficiaries solutions gain traction to ensure accountability in an increasingly digital economy.

As a key participant in these ecosystems – serving on the ITFA Aus/NZ regional board and now co-chairing the global Fintech DNI & Stablecoin subcommittee – I remain committed to industry-wide progress on ethical trade finance and digital corridors. Trade-Based Money Laundering, various forms of Contraband trafficking, and all forms of Trade Fraud are problems that web2 can’t solve, and an area of urgent remediation for our world.

On that note, I received Board approval for the establishment of the Technology & Infrastructure Working Group, starting with a project-based approach on Trade Digitalisation. The merging of the pre-existing CyberSec and the Innovation working groups is a temporary measure that will be reviewed after 6 months, allowing resources to flow into DECA’s engagement in Supply Chain, Logistics and Trade.  

The growing and active membership engagement for this sector over the past 3 years, in particular, was acknowledged – and we are excited for the opportunity to bring more utility and security to the forefront via Web3 and Artificial Intelligence. These Trade sectors are well known for their adoption of traceability and trackability in supply chains, and more recently, settlements via stablecoins.

Globally, SMEs are accessing trade finance more readily through tokenised assets and RWA platforms, with billions already tokenised on public networks, enabling faster funding and stronger returns outside legacy banking rails. 

Corporations are embracing stablecoins for real-time, 24/7 settlements – forecasts now point to these becoming standard institutional tools. I am pleased to report to have had strong discussions with Edward Zhang, newly appointed General Manager of Custody, Treasury, and Capital Markets at CloudTech – and we are setting Australian businesses up for big improvements on this front.

Internationally, projections still hold that over 50 governments may soon operate blockchain systems for trade or currency, with Australia keenly advancing in critical minerals and renewable energy tokenisation. This is the promise of technology – a more even distribution of opportunities and wealth. 

This quarter ahead is already busier and promises to be more fulfilling than ever. In an unusual development at the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon, last month, frustration over the consensus rule – blocked by a few countries unwilling to join the majority – prompted a group of members to adopt interim arrangements for implementing the WTO Agreement on Electronic Commerce.

Australia was part of this and welcomes the other 65 members advancing digital trade rules among what would be 70% of global trade, yet we must stay mindful that the broader WTO consensus remains blocked for the time being. 

Temperance is advised and it must be made clear that our Government has not yet shown great uptake of our WTO commitments into ministerial oversight, certainly not on a legislative basis.

On that governmental level, our federal leaders continue investing in digital corridors to ease MSME burdens, with DFAT’s activities and blockchain DLT pilots (including with Singapore) demonstrating real cost savings in document verification. And just this last month, Austrade via its Simplified Trade System, closed applications for an exporter-led Approach to Market pilot, to increase the implementation of Paperless Trade between Australia and Singapore.

On the Attorney-General and our Home Affairs front, the push for paperless trade is gaining pace – they have also acknowledged that processing times are dropping from weeks to days – with cloud, blockchain, machine learning, and AI already delivering compliance and security layers in the global market. 

Many government customs platforms still rely on foundational web2 approaches; the shift to hybrid and full digital integration remains poised for serious consideration and implementation.

From a more elevated perspective, the International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA) remains central to this global story. Their 52nd Annual Conference is now confirmed for Split, Croatia (9-11 September 2026), with a strong focus on Africa’s trade landscape and digital advancements. Within the ITFA, I remain keenly engaged in advancing modern trade finance practices, particularly through the digitisation of traditional instruments such as Promissory Notes and Bills of Exchange.

It is timely that I can further report that a local web3 business, ChainDoX, is testing Document digitisation via TradeTrust’s Open Attestation framework and is making itself known to the local exporting industry, attending the Trade & Investment Queensland Exporters Conference in Brisbane.

Local exporters are being introduced to the concept of sending trade docs on-chain to MLETR-compliant regions with all the efficiency gains promised by web3 digital. Local supply chain platforms are now also considering linking directly to digital trade finance and payments, especially with the AUDD Digital AUDDapt Grant Initiative making powerful incentives to settle trade on blockchain. 

Thanks again to DECA members HopgoodGanim Lawyers, and partner Tim Edwards, for helping to secure the seminal Trade Digitalisation event for September 3rd 2026. Such activities align perfectly with DECA’s national program – including the highly successful February 2026 Policy Forum in Canberra, our partnership on the annual Black Swan Summit, and the upcoming June 15-17 Digital Economy Conference in Sydney.

Our national Export Council’s earlier projections of up to $43 billion in value from digital trade alone are being validated on the ground, with blockchain and AI in tandem helping exporters better manage risks. Blockchain’s focus on reliable, secure, affordable and fast infrastructure supports such verticals as local trade and finance, including expanded AUD and USD stablecoin enterprise applications.

These efforts also tie into DECA’s recent independent research (with OKX and the DFCRC) quantifying a $24 billion digital finance opportunity for Australia – a clear call to action that underpins our advocacy. This research is truly only a glimpse into what Trade Digitalisation’s impact will eventually contribute – and ultimately deliver for the nation.

In summary, Trade in 2026 is delivering practical, utility-focused growth in Web3, with blockchain driving paperless efficiencies – bolstered locally by MLETR advancements, the Digital Assets Framework progress, RBA tokenisation insights, and live stablecoin rails for MSMEs and corporates alike.

I am certain DECA will continue championing these through our rich event calendar and policy advocacy, including the upcoming Digital Economy Conference in Sydney this June, giving a strong voice to this vital facet of web3 implementation as we truly become a ‘Digital’ Economy.

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