UN Report Notes Accelerated Global E-commerce Reform Amidst Uneven Development

On October 30, 2025, the UN Conference on Trade and Development released its groundbreaking report, revealing that global e-commerce and digital trade reforms are accelerating significantly, moving decisively from an "assessment phase" to an "action phase." E-commerce has rapidly evolved from a peripheral issue to become a central component of national economic strategies worldwide, with approximately 70% of assessed countries having developed formal national e-commerce policy documents. However, implementation progress remains notably slow and uneven across regions, creating a substantial risk of widening the digital divide, particularly for Least Developed Countries that lack necessary infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.

The comprehensive report, based on in-depth analysis of over 150 countries, provides updated policy insights on digital trade rules, electronic payment systems, and cross-border data flows. It strongly recommends that governments strengthen domestic policy coordination, enhance statistical capabilities, promote regional collaboration, and expand financing channels to build truly inclusive e-commerce ecosystems that prevent digitalization from exacerbating existing global inequalities and trade disparities.