UN/ESCAP: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Trade Facilitation Initiative
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN/ESCAP)
23 December 2025
Digital trade, supported by streamlined and effective regulatory frameworks (see DTRR 2025) and enhanced regional and multilateral cooperation (e.g., CPTA), can promote sustainable development (APTIR 2024-25). As Artificial Intelligence (AI), including generative AI, and now AI agents, transforms global trade operations, understanding its implementation across the Asia-Pacific region becomes critical to support countries in their development process.
Against this background, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is conducting its first survey on AI adoption in trade facilitation among ESCAP Member States. This survey focuses on the use of AI by customs administrations and other government agencies (OGAs) involved in trade procedures.
The outcome of the survey will enable countries to understand their current level of AI integration in trade facilitation processes. It will help establish a baseline on the application of AI in trade facilitation, identify best practices and implementation challenges, support evidence-based policymaking and capacity-building initiatives, and promote the harmonization of approaches to accelerate the responsible adoption of emerging technologies in trade facilitation across the region.
Survey
ESCAP Member States are invited to complete the Survey on Artificial Intelligence in Trade Facilitation. Data collection follows a two-step approach: national governments complete the questionnaire and provide any information deemed relevant. The responses received will then be collated, reviewed, and complemented, as necessary, with desk research and additional inputs from trade facilitation experts involved in ESCAP activities.
Online Survey
Individual experts and trade practitioners are invited to complete the online survey questionnaire to help gather as much information as possible on the current state of AI adoption and implementation in trade facilitation. Online survey responses cannot be saved. If you would prefer to complete a Word version of the questionnaire and return it to us instead, please contact Runqiu Du (runqiu.du@un.org).
*Individual answers will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed at any time.
Timeline
December 2025: Distribution of the final survey questionnaire (based on feedback from the advisory group).
5 February 2026: Initial collection of survey results from governments.
5 February-March 2026: Collection and analysis of additional responses and information, including from individual experts.
8 June 2026: Results released during the Paperless Trade Week 2026
Advisory Group
Thomas Cantens: Technical Assistance Advisor at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where his work covers AI in tax and customs administration. He previously worked as Head of the Research and Policy Unit at the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Emmanuelle Ganne: Chief of Digital Trade and Frontier Technologies at the World Trade Organization (WTO), where she coordinates policy discussions, negotiations, research, and technical assistance on digital trade, AI, and other frontier technologies.
Sung Heun (Rama) Ha: Director at Korea Trade Netwwork (KTNET), with extensive experience developing and implementing trade facilitation and digitalization projects and applications in developing countries in Asia, Africa as well as globally. He is also member of various advisory committees, including those of the United Nations Network of Experts for Paperless Trade and Transport (UNNExT).
Bridget Shoo: Counsellor, Digital Trade and Frontier Technologies Hub at the World Trade Organization (WTO). She previously served as the Deputy Director of the Supply Chain and Economic Resilience Division at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore).
Renata Thiébaut: Secretary-General of the AI Global Exchange Forum. As an expert in digital trade, particularly with a deep expertise in the Asian and North American markets, she has worked in senior positions in both the private and public sectors.
Contacts
Silvère Dernouh silvere.dernouh@un.org
Soo Hyun Kim kim51@un.org
Runqiu Du runqiu.du@un.org
Yann Duval duvaly@un.org
Read the full story (with images and links): https://www.unescap.org/news/artificial-intelligence-ai-trade-facilitation-initiative
« Back
23 December 2025
Digital trade, supported by streamlined and effective regulatory frameworks (see DTRR 2025) and enhanced regional and multilateral cooperation (e.g., CPTA), can promote sustainable development (APTIR 2024-25). As Artificial Intelligence (AI), including generative AI, and now AI agents, transforms global trade operations, understanding its implementation across the Asia-Pacific region becomes critical to support countries in their development process.
Against this background, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is conducting its first survey on AI adoption in trade facilitation among ESCAP Member States. This survey focuses on the use of AI by customs administrations and other government agencies (OGAs) involved in trade procedures.
The outcome of the survey will enable countries to understand their current level of AI integration in trade facilitation processes. It will help establish a baseline on the application of AI in trade facilitation, identify best practices and implementation challenges, support evidence-based policymaking and capacity-building initiatives, and promote the harmonization of approaches to accelerate the responsible adoption of emerging technologies in trade facilitation across the region.
Survey
ESCAP Member States are invited to complete the Survey on Artificial Intelligence in Trade Facilitation. Data collection follows a two-step approach: national governments complete the questionnaire and provide any information deemed relevant. The responses received will then be collated, reviewed, and complemented, as necessary, with desk research and additional inputs from trade facilitation experts involved in ESCAP activities.
Online Survey
Individual experts and trade practitioners are invited to complete the online survey questionnaire to help gather as much information as possible on the current state of AI adoption and implementation in trade facilitation. Online survey responses cannot be saved. If you would prefer to complete a Word version of the questionnaire and return it to us instead, please contact Runqiu Du (runqiu.du@un.org).
*Individual answers will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed at any time.
Timeline
December 2025: Distribution of the final survey questionnaire (based on feedback from the advisory group).
5 February 2026: Initial collection of survey results from governments.
5 February-March 2026: Collection and analysis of additional responses and information, including from individual experts.
8 June 2026: Results released during the Paperless Trade Week 2026
Advisory Group
Thomas Cantens: Technical Assistance Advisor at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where his work covers AI in tax and customs administration. He previously worked as Head of the Research and Policy Unit at the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Emmanuelle Ganne: Chief of Digital Trade and Frontier Technologies at the World Trade Organization (WTO), where she coordinates policy discussions, negotiations, research, and technical assistance on digital trade, AI, and other frontier technologies.
Sung Heun (Rama) Ha: Director at Korea Trade Netwwork (KTNET), with extensive experience developing and implementing trade facilitation and digitalization projects and applications in developing countries in Asia, Africa as well as globally. He is also member of various advisory committees, including those of the United Nations Network of Experts for Paperless Trade and Transport (UNNExT).
Bridget Shoo: Counsellor, Digital Trade and Frontier Technologies Hub at the World Trade Organization (WTO). She previously served as the Deputy Director of the Supply Chain and Economic Resilience Division at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore).
Renata Thiébaut: Secretary-General of the AI Global Exchange Forum. As an expert in digital trade, particularly with a deep expertise in the Asian and North American markets, she has worked in senior positions in both the private and public sectors.
Contacts
Silvère Dernouh silvere.dernouh@un.org
Soo Hyun Kim kim51@un.org
Runqiu Du runqiu.du@un.org
Yann Duval duvaly@un.org
Read the full story (with images and links): https://www.unescap.org/news/artificial-intelligence-ai-trade-facilitation-initiative