A new edition of the Handbook on Measuring Digital Trade provides a framework and practical guidance on how to measure digital trade. Building upon the first edition issued in 2019, the Handbook aims to address the challenges inherent in measuring digital trade and to establish consistent practices that will allow for comparable data across countries. The publication is jointly authored by the WTO, the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

The measurement of digital trade offers policymakers statistical evidence on the significant impact of digital trade on the global economy. Digital technologies have made it increasingly feasible for buyers and sellers to place and receive orders on a global scale. They also enable the instantaneous remote delivery of services directly into businesses and homes.

The Handbook focuses on two key elements: digitally ordered trade and digitally delivered trade. Furthermore, it highlights the important role of digital intermediation platforms (DIPs) in facilitating digital trade and addresses particular compilation challenges in measuring DIP transactions.

The Handbook represents a comprehensive agreed approach to measuring digital trade. It incorporates extensive compilation guidance based on substantive inputs and case studies from both developed and developing economies. It also provides a reporting template, facilitating the production and dissemination of digital trade statistics. The template offers flexibility to statistical compilers, even when only partial information is available.

The Handbook marks a crucial step towards effective measurement of digital trade. Through its extensive compilation guidance, it will enable statistical compilers to measure and monitor digital trade and will help policymakers to respond to the challenges and opportunities brought about by the digital transformation of global trade.

Report by the World Trade Organization