1.

Blockchain

Blockchain and blockchain-based distributed ledger technologies can have tremendous impact
on the global trade supply chain. Trade organizations such as Dubai Chamber of Commerce and
Industry have also launched an initiative to leverage blockchain technology to address global
trade issues such as high costs and lack of transparency and security. In addition to making
movement of goods more efficient and reliable, blockchain-based solutions are disrupting the
world of trade financing. For example, blockchain is being used to simplify the long and tedious
process of obtaining a Letter of Credit (LoC), a payment mechanism used in international trade.

2. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can be used to optimize trade shipping routes,
manage vessel and truck traffic at ports, and translate e-commerce search queries from one
language into other languages and respond with translated inventory.

More than efficiencies gains and better consumer services, AI is also being used to make global
trade sustainable. For example, Google launched Global Fishing Watch in 2016, which is a real-
time tool using machine learning to combat illegal fishing by providing a global view of
commercial fishing activities based on ship movements and satellite data. It can be used by
governments and other organizations to identify suspicious behaviours and develop sustainable
policies.

3. Trading services via digital platforms

It’s increasingly easier to trade services online - digital platforms like Upwork allow users to find
service providers from all over the globe for a wide range of services, and can find anything from
a web developer in Serbia, to an accountant in Pakistan, to a virtual assistant in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, startups such as the international learning platform VIPKID pairs up American
educators with Chinese children to teach English online. These digital platforms seamlessly
connect the customers with service providers, in a way that wasn't possible before when such
professional services were mostly delivered in person.

4. 3D-printing
The jury is still out on the impact of 3D-printing on global trade. There are studies that predict
that once high-speed 3D-printing is mass-adopted and cheap enough, global trade may decrease
by as much as 25%, since 3D -printing requires less labor and reduce the needs for imports.
Others argue that such views are too optimistic and don’t take into account the complexity and
reality of mass manufacturing. Regardless of the positions, the impact of 3D-printing on global
trade is real, especially as faster and cheaper methods of 3D-printing become available.