G/TBT/W/780/Rev.1  
 
1 March 2024  
(24-1946) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
INTEROPERABLE DATA STANDARDS IN TRADE  
TENTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW  
Proposal from Australia  
Revision  
The following submiss ion, dated 1 March 2024 , is being circulated at the request of the  delegation 
of Australia . 
 
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  A number of thematic sessions during the 9th Triennial Review period explored matters relevant 
to digital trade. A recurring theme in all these sessions was the importance of interoperability and 
the value of international standards for achievin g it. This proposal is an extension of the exploration 
of these topics, considering these issues in the context of data standards.  
1.2.  Digitalisation and digital technologies may facilitate access to international markets and reduce 
the costs of entry, especially for MSMEs.  However, the growth of digital trade and the spread of its 
benefits is not guaranteed since divergent data standards may create incompatibilities which become 
barriers to cross -border trade and constrain the adoption of new technologi es. 
1.3.  Incompatibilities may take the form of regulatory controls based on mandated local 
technologies, data localisation requirements, data flow restrictions, or privacy or security laws acting 
as trade barriers.  Large companies with resources for digital tr ansformation may also widen the 
existing digital divide by dominating smaller companies, including scenarios where proprietary 
systems become de facto  standards for key supply chain operations to the disadvantage of smaller 
companies.   
1.4.  Adoption by economie s of interoperable data standards can accelerate the adoption of digital 
processes in support of a rules -based and open global trading environment.  Such an environment 
may reflect the high -level principles on digitalization of trade documents agreed at the  August 2023 
G20 Trade & Investment Ministerial Meeting, namely: 1. Neutrality, 2. Security, 3. Trust, 
4. Interoperability, 5. Data privacy, 6. Reliability, 7. Voluntary sharing of data, 8. Collaboration, 
9. Traceability, 10. Scalability .  
1.5.  Sustainability g oals are driving changes in national approaches that will profoundly affect trade 
and the role of trade -related data.  In particular, digital access/verification of data is becoming 
increasingly important, driven by initiatives such as digital product passp orts. Support for 
sustainability outcomes would be an important area of focus to highlight the value of interoperable 
data standards in trade.  G/TBT/W/780/Rev.1  
 
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  2  PROPOSAL  
2.1.  Australia proposes a thematic session to explore the importance of interoperable data 
standards for digi tal trade, with a view to:  
a. Supporting the reduction of barriers to trade;  
b. Supporting sustainable trade outcomes; and  
c. Supporting a better understanding of the significance of interoperability in a data context.  
2.2.  Topics and areas of focus could include:  
a. The cross-sectoral relevance and application of data standards , particularly in the context 
of cross -sectoral sustainability goals;  
b. Presentations by interested stakeholders, including Members, industry, international 
organizations, or non -government organizations, that have introduced or are in the 
process of introducing systems or regulations having cross -sectoral and cross -
jurisdicti onal application that leverage interoperable data standards, particularly in relation 
to sustainability outcomes, with a view to identifying the necessary prerequisites for 
interoperability, any implementation challenges and the potential for further exten sion.  
 
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