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Start: February 2025 | The Hague, The Netherlands ESG Governance Training Program 2025 Start: February 2025 | The Hague, The Netherlands ESG Governance Training Program 2025 Equipping leaders to drive sustainable, ethical, and impactful business practices. Equipping leaders to drive sustainable, ethical, and impactful business practices. Register Now Register Now Download Brochure Download Brochure 27 March | Amsterdam, The Netherlands Join Our Special Session with Geopolitical Expert Alex Krijger Register Now Hosted by The ICC ADR Commission is pleased to welcome Alex Krijger as a special guest at our upcoming meeting. As a leading geopolitical analyst, Alex will provide key insights into the rapidly evolving global landscape, offering valuable perspectives on pressing international developments. This session is open to both ICC ADR Commission members and non-members. 📅 Date: 27 March ⌚Time: 16:00 – 18:00 CET 🏢Location: De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek Burgerweeshuispad 201, 1070AB , Amsterdam · We will explore key questions, including: What is the broader context and background of the Trump-2 administration's foreign policy agenda? Who are the key players, and what can we expect in the coming months? What are the most realistic scenarios regarding Ukraine, the Middle East, China/Taiwan, trade, and tariffs? How are recent geopolitical developments linked to the longer-term shifts in the world order, such as the rise of the Global South? With Europe now forced to take more responsibility in security, industry, economy, and energy, how will it respond? Where are the opportunities and risks for a more self-confident Europe? What do these developments mean for us as the Dutch ICC Commission on ADR—and personally? What are the key geopolitical and geo-economic risks, and where can we find reasons for optimism? Alex Krijger is a leading geopolitical analyst, and there will be ample opportunity for questions and discussion during the session. Since this part of the program may be of interest to a wider audience, we invite partners and advocates from your law firms to join us for Alex Krijger’s session and the networking drinks. Geopolitical Discussion with Alex Krijger First name* Last name* Company name* Position* Email* Phone I am interested in future events on similar topics I would like to receive ICC updates, event invitations, and newsletters. Comments or Special Requests (Please specify any dietary restrictions, accessibility needs, or other requests.) Register

< Back < Previous | Next > Business disappointed by failure to secure global plastics treaty ICC HQ 15 Aug 2025 The International Chamber of Commerce has issued the following statement at the conclusion of the latest round of intergovernmental negotiations on a proposed UN plastics treaty: “We are deeply disappointed that, despite best efforts over the past ten days, governments have been unable to reach agreement on a new plastics treaty. Plastic pollution is a global challenge that, by its very nature, requires coordinated international action.” “Many companies across our global network are taking concerted steps to address plastic pollution, but these efforts need to be reinforced by an effective agreement that sets a workable pathway to achieve the objectives of UNEA Resolution 5/14.” “From a global business perspective, an effective international framework on plastics remains vital to provide the certainty needed to drive investment and innovation and accelerate practical solutions to address plastic pollution.” “We recognise the concerted efforts of the INC Chair and Secretariat in guiding this process and continue to urge governments to find a constructive path forward to leverage the progress made over the past three years of negotiations.” “The global business community continues to take bold action to beat plastic pollution and stands ready to support global efforts to address this challenge.”

< Back Bas Van Zelst Enhance Arbitration B.V. Arbitrator, Mediator Biography Prof. Bas van Zelst co-founded Enhance Arbitration. Building on about 20 years of experience, Bas acts as counsel, arbitrator, and expert in commercial and investment matters – including on annulment and enforcement mandates. Bas has extensive experience in conducting and advising on national and international commercial arbitration and related proceedings before the regular courts. He has been involved in arbitration procedures under the ICC, NAI, LCIA, UNCITRAL and DIS arbitration rules. Prof. Van Zelst combines his full-time counsel practice with a position as professor of dispute resolution and arbitration at the University of Maastricht. He is a member of the editorial board of TvA, the Dutch Journal of Arbitration Law, and a member of the Netherlands Arbitration Institute's Advisory Board since 2018. Contact Details Netherlands +31611388570 zelst@enhancearbitration.com Additional Links Link About ICC Netherlands We ensure that Dutch business interests are heard and represented in international policymaking. We deliver tools and standards that simplify cross-border business like model contracts or Incoterms®. We support fair and efficient dispute resolution . Become a member Upcoming events Learn more Check our latest news! News Languages Spoken English, Dutch Specialisation Construction, Engineering, Distribution, Franchising, Investment / Public International Law, Corporate Law / M&A, Energy and Natural Resources Bar Admission(s) NL (Dutch Bar) Credentials CEDR CV

< Back < Previous | Next > Economics Policy uncertainty cost businesses US$202 billion in 2025 - and the stakes for 2026 are bigger 11 May 2026 A new ICC report with Oxford Economics puts a price tag on policy volatility. Policy uncertainty cost businesses US$202 billion in 2025 - and the stakes for 2026 are bigger A new ICC report with Oxford Economics puts a price tag on policy volatility, for the first time quantifying its impact on real business investment across the world's largest economies - and the value of predictability itself. When the political environment is unstable, business does what business has to do: it waits. Boards delay capital projects, supply-chain decisions are postponed, hiring pauses, and the cost compounds. ICC and Oxford Economics have now put a price tag on that pattern. In a new report published in April 2026, they estimate that the surge in global economic policy uncertainty in 2025, driven primarily by trade policy volatility and culminating in the April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariff package, cost businesses around US$202 billion in lost or delayed investment across ten major economies, equivalent to 0.2% of global GDP. The figure is large in its own right. It is bigger than the entire United States defence procurement budget for FY2025 (around US$167 billion). It is more than double the global capital spend of Alphabet, Google's parent company, in a year of breakneck AI-driven expansion. And it is a conservative estimate — capturing only the direct, measurable impact on real business investment, holding other factors constant. The size of the underlying shock was itself unprecedented. The Global Economic Policy Uncertainty Index in 2025 reached its highest level on record, surpassing both the global financial crisis and the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The damage was unusually broad-based: every one of the ten economies in the sample, Brazil, Canada, China, the EU-4 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain), India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, together about 70% of world GDP, saw real business investment dragged down. Across the sample, investment grew just 0.4% in 2025. Absent the uncertainty shock, it would likely have grown more than four times faster, at 1.9%. The geographical pattern is instructive. Mexico and Canada were hit hardest in relative terms, with investment 6.8% and 5.3% below their counterfactual paths - losses comparable to a meaningful share of the contractions seen during the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States incurred the largest absolute loss, around US$74 billion, although a powerful AI-driven investment boom masked the underlying drag in the headline figures. South Korea, hit simultaneously by a domestic constitutional crisis and intensifying US trade pressure, saw investment 2.9% below the counterfactual. The United Kingdom, with a more services-led economy and lower exposure to US trade policy, was the least affected. The stakes for 2026 are higher still. The report models two scenarios. Under an adverse case - a renewed uncertainty shock of historical magnitude hitting all ten economies in Q2 2026 - real business investment could fall by 2.7%, or roughly US$380 billion, equivalent to 100% of FDI inflows to North America in 2025. Under a favourable case in which policy clarity is restored, investment could rise 1.8%, or US$252 billion. The gap between those two outcomes, more than US$630 billion, is, in effect, the value of policy clarity. The report's policy conclusion is deliberately non-partisan. Reducing the cost of uncertainty does not require policymakers to choose any specific direction; it requires clarity, consistency and predictability in how decisions are designed, sequenced and communicated. As the authors put it, "the way in which governments and international institutions manage the uncertainty that surrounds their decisions may matter as much as the decisions themselves." For Dutch businesses operating internationally, the takeaway is concrete. Predictability has moved from a political ideal to a balance-sheet item: something to be actively managed, monitored and, where possible, defended. ICC Netherlands will continue to advocate for policy stability, both in the global trade conversation and in the rule-making channels where Dutch business is represented. Read the full report → 2026_The_cost_of_policy_uncertainty_on_investment_Full_report_EN .pdf Download PDF • 2.46MB Read the summary → 2026_The_cost_of_uncertainty_on_investment_Executive_summary_EN .pdf Download PDF • 605KB For further details on the modelling or to discuss the findings, please contact Melanie Laloum at ICC.

< Back < Previous | Next > ICC Netherlands calls on Dutch Parliament to accelerate adoption of MLETR 1 Sept 2025 ICC Netherlands, together with a broad coalition of companies, banks and business associations, has presented a whitepaper to the Dutch Parliament calling for swift adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) – a move that will cut costs, reduce delays and strengthen the Netherlands’ competitive position. On 1 September, ICC Netherlands, together with a broad coalition of companies, banks and business associations, presented a whitepaper to the Dutch Parliament urging swift adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) . What may appear to be a technical legal change has enormous practical impact. Adoption of MLETR could: Save Dutch businesses hundreds of millions of euros in unnecessary costs Shorten trade document processing from 6–10 days to less than 24 hours Reduce bureaucracy and cut administrative burdens for SMEs by up to 35% Strengthen the Netherlands’ competitiveness as a global trading nation Why it matters International trade is the lifeblood of the Dutch economy: imports and exports together represent more than €1.6 trillion annually – nearly four times GDP . Yet many critical trade documents are still only legally valid on paper. This causes delays, higher costs, and a loss of efficiency. Other countries are moving faster. The UK, France, Germany and Singapore have already updated their legislation. The UK is even ready to advance digital cooperation with the Netherlands, but progress is stalled because eight key documents cannot yet be issued electronically under Dutch law . Clear call to action ICC Netherlands and its partners urge Parliament to: Quickly approve legislation for the electronic bill of lading Launch the legislative process for the remaining seven MLETR documents The digital future of trade starts now. With one simple legislative step, the Netherlands can unlock major efficiency gains and safeguard its position as Europe’s digital gateway and trade hub. The business community is ready to help make this a reality. 👉 Read the executive summary here: EN- Executive summary - Electronic transferable records (1) .pdf Download PDF • 1.84MB 👉 The whitepaper is available in Dutch, here De adoptie van de UNCITRAL‘Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records’ in NL (6) .pdf Download PDF • 3.28MB About this initiative The whitepaper was prepared by representatives of ICC Netherlands, ICISA, ING Bank, Port of Rotterdam and other experts, supported by a broad coalition of companies, banks and business associations.

< Back < Previous | Next > The Silent Drain on Enterprise: The Economic Impact of Unresolved Commercial Disputes 4 Nov 2025 A new ICC–Oxera report reveals the staggering global cost of unresolved commercial disputes, which drain liquidity, suppress investment, and weaken trust in markets. The study highlights how affordable, digital dispute resolution can unlock growth, especially for SMEs, and strengthen justice as essential economic infrastructure. The Silent Drain on Enterprise: The Economic Impact of Unresolved Commercial Disputes Every day, countless business-to-business transactions end in disagreement, over payments, delivery, quality, or performance. For large companies, such disputes are often an inconvenience. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), they can be existential. A new Oxera study commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) exposes the staggering economic toll of low-value commercial disputes that remain unresolved, often because the cost of pursuing justice exceeds the value of the claim itself. The result is a hidden but systemic drag on productivity, investment, and growth: a “missing market” for justice that distorts economies worldwide. Globally, SMEs are estimated to write off more than US$1 trillion every year in bad debts and disputed invoices . In many developing economies, the average cost of court proceedings is higher than the claim value, making enforcement economically irrational. The rational choice, repeated millions of times, is to walk away, eroding trust across markets and suppressing the appetite to invest. From Business Losses to Macro-Economic Harm The ICC–Oxera report, published in October 2025, traces how unresolved disputes ripple outward from individual firms to entire economies. At the firm level , unpaid claims drain liquidity, tie up working capital, and consume valuable management time, time that could fuel innovation or new sales. At the market level , the lack of predictable contract enforcement increases uncertainty, discouraging long-term partnerships and limiting participation in global value chains. At the systemic level , these losses accumulate into a macroeconomic brake on growth: weak enforcement reduces investment, tightens credit, and lowers productivity. The impact is particularly severe for SMEs in emerging markets, which account for 95% of firms and over half of employment but face prohibitively high legal costs and lengthy proceedings. In Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste, the average cost of enforcing a contract exceeds 100% of the claim value. Globally, the SME financing gap, already estimated at US$5.2 trillion annually , widens further as lenders hesitate to finance firms that cannot reliably enforce contracts. Justice as Economic Infrastructure The message from ICC and Oxera is clear: efficient, accessible dispute resolution is not only a legal necessity, it is an economic imperative. Just as ports, energy grids, and digital networks enable trade, a functioning justice system allows firms to enforce agreements quickly and fairly. Improving access to justice for SMEs unlocks multiple growth dividends: Frees capital locked in unpaid invoices and reduces costly litigation; Strengthens trust between buyers and suppliers; Deepens credit markets by giving lenders confidence that contracts will be honoured; Encourages innovation by reducing risk and promoting fair competition. Accessible dispute resolution is, in short, a form of economic infrastructure , vital for productivity, inclusion, and sustainable growth. A Digital Pathway Forward Digital innovation now offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to democratise access to justice. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platforms, using digital workflows, secure document exchange, and virtual mediation, can resolve many commercial disputes at a fraction of the time and cost of court proceedings. Building on its century-long leadership in commercial standard-setting and access to justice, ICC is developing a global ODR platform designed for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises. By integrating ODR into national legal systems and trade frameworks, governments can create a low-cost, high-trust layer of justice infrastructure, particularly valuable for cross-border transactions and digital trade. For Europe and the Netherlands, home to strong digital trade ecosystems and forward-looking legal institutions, this presents an opportunity to lead by example, making dispute resolution more efficient, inclusive, and future-proof. Read further Full report: The Economic Impact of Unresolved Low-Value Commercial Disputes (ICC & Oxera, 2025) Read the Summary

< Back Sophia von Dewall Vanguard International Dispute Resolution Arbitrator Biography Sophia von Dewall is a founding partner of Vanguard International Dispute Resolution. Sophia has acted in numerous international arbitration proceedings, as well as in legal proceedings before Netherlands state courts. She has handled arbitrations conducted under the arbitration rules of the NAI, CEPANI, ICC, HKIAC and ICSID. Her areas of practice include international investment disputes and international commercial disputes arising out of international contracts, joint-venture and shareholder relationships and large infrastructural projects. She also acts as arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings. Prior to founding Vanguard International Dispute Resolution, Sophia worked at Freshfields (Amsterdam, London, New York) before moving to Derains & Gharavi Paris, where she became partner in 2022. Sophia is admitted to the Amsterdam Bar and registered in the Paris Bar. She obtained an LL.M. in Public International & European Law (cum laude ) and an LL.M. in Dutch Law (cum laude ) from the University of Amsterdam. Contact Details France +33181801093 svondewall@vanguard-disputes.com Additional Links Link About ICC Netherlands We ensure that Dutch business interests are heard and represented in international policymaking. We deliver tools and standards that simplify cross-border business like model contracts or Incoterms®. We support fair and efficient dispute resolution . Become a member Upcoming events Learn more Check our latest news! News Languages Spoken English, Dutch, French Specialisation Agency (Representation), Arts,Leisure, Entertainment, Tourism, Construction, Engineering, Corporate Law / M&A, Distribution, Franchising, Energy and Natural Resources, Finance and Banking, Information and Communication Technologies, Investment / Public International Law, Joint Ventures, Consortia, Cooperation, Pharmaceutical, Sales, Purchases Bar Admission(s) NL (Dutch Bar), FR (French Bar) Credentials CV

< Back < Previous | Next > ICC Model Contract New ICC Model Contract on Commissioning & After-sales Services 18 Feb 2025 The ICC Model Contract on Commissioning and After-sales Services provides a balanced and flexible legal framework for international agreements related to the installation, testing, maintenance, and repair of goods or equipment. It helps parties define clear responsibilities, timelines, and liability terms, reducing the risk of disputes in cross-border service arrangements. Companies purchasing a machine or industrial solution typically need to arrange for the provision of services to maintain the smooth functioning of operations. In the context of global trade, these services may be provided in a range of formats and across geographies. The increasing diversification and global reach of company operations highlight the need for a set of standard terms to govern such service arrangements. ICC has drafted this model contract to provide companies and their advisors with an internationally applicable, fair, and balanced template. The model covers the services connected to the supply of a machine, equipment, or an industrial solution. This typically involves installation; assembly and putting into operation (the ‘commissioning services’); and maintenance or after-sale services. The model is intended to service both manufacturers and suppliers of machines, equipment and industrial solutions, and companies providing such commissioning and maintenance and after sale services. Although the present model form has been established especially for international situations, nothing prevents the parties from using it for domestic contracts, i.e. contracts between parties having their place of business in the same country. Each ICC Model Contract includes a fully editable version in Microsoft Word, permitting you to easily adapt the contract to your specific case. Explore the ICC Model Contract: eBook: 845E ICC Model Contract Commissioning and After-sales Services | ICC WBO Netherlands

< Back Bartholomeus Leijnse Leijnse Artz Arbitrator Biography Bartholomeus P.H. Leijnse (1962) graduated in Dutch law (1988) and in philosophy (1994); practicing lawyer since 1992, at Nauta Dutilh until 2001; founding partner of the boutique firm Leijnse Artz in Rotterdam (2001), focusing on commercial interests in highly regulated markets (food, consumer goods, health care and pharma). Counsel in numerous domestic and international arbitrations under various rules; chair, co-arbitrator, emergency and sole arbitrator in numerous cases in institutional (NAI, ICC, WIPO) and ad hoc arbitrations. Contact Details Netherlands +31 10 2444344 b.leijnse@leijnseartz.com Additional Links Link About ICC Netherlands We ensure that Dutch business interests are heard and represented in international policymaking. We deliver tools and standards that simplify cross-border business like model contracts or Incoterms®. We support fair and efficient dispute resolution . Become a member Upcoming events Learn more Check our latest news! News Languages Spoken Dutch, English Specialisation Joint Ventures, Corporate Law / M&A, Product Liability, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Shareholder Disputes, International Trade Contracts Bar Admission(s) Credentials CV

< Back Jeremy LACK LAWTECH Mediator Biography JEREMY LACK is a lawyer and ADR neutral admitted to the bars of England & Wales (1989), New York, USA (1990), and Geneva, Switzerland (2003). He specializes in commercial, technology, life sciences, IT, intellectual property, and complex international disputes. Jeremy founded LAWTECH.CH and INNOVADR Ltd. , and is a Door Tenant with QUADRANT CHAMBERS (GB) and counsel to HELVETICA AVOCATS SARL (CH). He serves as an Ombudsperson for DRUGS FOR NEGLECTED DISEASES INITIATIVE (CH) and has held key executive and legal roles in several companies. A certified IMI mediator and practicing arbitrator, he is ranked by WHO’S WHO LEGAL as a Global Elite Thought Leader (2019-2024). Jeremy holds an MA (Oxon) from Oxford University and works in English, French, and Spanish. He lives in Geneva, Switzerland, and designs bespoke international commercial dispute resolution processes. He holds Swiss, British, US, and Israeli citizenships. For more information, please visit: www.lawtech.ch and www.innovadr.com . Contact Details Switzerland (International) +41792471519 jlack@lawtech.ch Additional Links Link About ICC Netherlands We ensure that Dutch business interests are heard and represented in international policymaking. We deliver tools and standards that simplify cross-border business like model contracts or Incoterms®. We support fair and efficient dispute resolution . Become a member Upcoming events Learn more Check our latest news! News Languages Spoken English, French, Spanish, Hebrew Specialisation Competition, Consultancy Services (Other than Legal), Corporate Law / M&A, Distribution, Information and Communication Technologies, Intellectual Property, Investment / Public International Law, Joint Ventures, Pharmaceutical, Sales, Sports, Arts, Employment, Energy and Natural Resources Bar Admission(s) Credentials IMI, CEDR, Other CV

< Back < Previous | Next > ICC Report: Unlocking Private Sector Investment for Climate Adaptation 28 Aug 2025 Climate change is already costing the global economy trillions, yet adaptation finance continues to lag far behind what is needed. A new ICC–Oxera report highlights how the private sector can play a decisive role in closing this gap. With public funds alone insufficient, innovative instruments, better risk data, and enabling regulation are essential to unlock private investment at scale. As the official voice of business in the UN climate process, ICC will bring these recommendations to COP30 in Belém to advocate for a stronger role of business in building global climate resilience. ICC Report: Unlocking Private Sector Investment for Climate Adaptation Climate change is no longer a distant risk — it is already reshaping economies and societies worldwide. Extreme weather events caused over US$2 trillion in economic losses between 2014 and 2023 , directly affecting 1.6 billion people. Damages are escalating rapidly, with US$451 billion in losses recorded in just 2022–2023 . Despite this urgent need, adaptation finance lags far behind mitigation . In 2022, global mitigation finance reached US$1.3 trillion, while adaptation attracted only US$76 billion — and just 8% came from the private sector . Developing countries are particularly vulnerable: small island and least developed states paid over twice as much in debt service (US$59bn) as they received in climate finance (US$28bn). To address this gap, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) commissioned Oxera to analyse how the private sector’s role in climate adaptation can be scaled up. The report highlights that public finance alone cannot meet the scale of the challenge . Unlocking private capital is essential to drive the innovation and investment needed to build resilience at speed and scale. Key recommendations The report sets out three strategic priorities for governments, regulators and financial institutions: Strengthen climate risk information and transparency Improve access to high-quality, open climate risk data. Mandate proportionate disclosure of physical climate risks across operations and supply chains. Standardise adaptation metrics and taxonomies to make resilience measurable and investable. Establish enabling institutions and regulatory incentives Embed business participation in National Adaptation Plans. Create sandboxes and procurement frameworks that reward climate resilience. Adjust capital requirements to reflect the benefits of resilient investments. Scale adaptation finance with innovative instruments Expand blended finance, resilience bonds and insurance-linked products. Develop adaptation bonds tied to avoided losses or service delivery outcomes. Leverage insurers’ data and expertise to guide investment and maintain coverage in high-risk areas. ICC at COP30 As the official voice of business in the UN climate negotiations (UNFCCC) , ICC will use this report to advocate for a stronger role of the private sector in climate adaptation at COP30 in Belém, Brazil . With adaptation expected to be a central theme of the talks, ICC’s recommendations aim to shape an actionable policy agenda that enables businesses to be true partners in building global climate resilience. Read the full report 2025-ICC-Oxera-The-role-of-the-private-sector-in-climate-adaptation-Full-report .pdf Download PDF • 3.33MB Read the summary 2025-ICC-Oxera-The-role-of-the-private-sector-in-climate-adaptation-Report-summary .pdf Download PDF • 163KB

< Back < Previous | Next > Anti-corruption / Corporate governance ICC and WCO release trade facilitation recommendations for enhanced integrity at borders 10 Jul 2025 Integrity at borders is fundamental to sustainable trade and economic growth. A new joint International Chamber of Commerce-World Customs Organization paper highlights how trade facilitation – by digitalising processes, reducing complexities and increasing transparency – can be a powerful tool for fighting corruption. Download US$1.2 to US$1.5 trillion. That’s the staggering annual cost of bribery alone – equal to roughly 2% of annual global GDP. But bribery represents just one facet of corruption’s devastating impact. The true cost runs far deeper, undermining the very foundations of fair trade and economic growth by eroding institutional trust, distorting competition, and creating artificial barriers that stifle opportunity for businesses worldwide. Corruption thrives precisely where trade facilitation is most needed: in complex, opaque environments where procedures span multiple government agencies and discretionary decision-making creates opportunities for abuse. Micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and women-owned businesses are particularly vulnerable in these settings, as they often lack the resources to navigate burdensome procedures or absorb the added costs of informal payments. However, trade facilitation – the simplification and harmonisation of international trade procedures – can be a powerful lever for combatting corruption, according to a new joint paper from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). How does trade facilitation limit corrupt practices? By reducing complexity and increasing transparency, trade facilitation limits opportunities for illicit practices. When properly implemented, these measures create an environment where corruption becomes both harder to carry out and easier to detect. Digitalising border processes to reduce human intervention and establishing clear and transparent regulatory frameworks that limit discretionary decision-making are concrete trade facilitation measures that strengthen integrity. Public-private partnerships play an essential role by promoting collective action and reinforcing the implementation of integrity-focused reforms. These efforts must be grounded in the World Trade Organiztion (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement and the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention, which provide a critical foundation for strengthening integrity, promoting transparency, limiting discretion, and supporting more predictable and rules-based border procedures. However, border practices in many countries remain in urgent need of trade facilitation reforms . Take export licensing, for example: in some cases, companies must visit multiple government offices to have paper documents stamped – a time-consuming and costly process. When officials arbitrarily demand additional documentation, it creates fertile ground for corruption, where officials can demand facilitation payments while businesses feel pressured to comply simply to expedite processes. While trade facilitation serves as a powerful anti-corruption tool, it is not without risks and limitations. These measures can face challenges including data manipulation in digitalised systems, cybersecurity threats, internal corruption risks, and resistance to technological adoption. To address these vulnerabilities, both Customs authorities and businesses must implement comprehensive approaches that include robust governance structures, regular audits, cybersecurity protections, and training programs. Public-private partnerships through National Trade Facilitation Committees and chambers of commerce are essential for building trust and creating effective enforcement strategies that address both the supply and demand sides of corruption. Trade facilitation in action Forward-thinking companies are adopting practices aligned with tra principles as anti-corruption tools. Some firms require their business units to take practical steps to reduce the risk of solicitation, including through digitalising sensitive transactions and engaging legal support when attending meetings with parties that present a higher risk of solicitation. Other businesses mandate the use of electronic communications or e-government solutions in areas such as licensing, procurement and taxes to reduce face-to-face interactions with public officials and minimise connected risks of bribe solicitation. Similarly, some countries that embrace digitalisation have seen remarkable outcomes. For example, in Guatemala a project supported by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation digitalised ship arrival and departures procedures through the National Single Window (VUMAR), reducing processing times by 85% and eliminating the need for multiple in-person visits. This reform made all these transactions traceable and verifiable, demonstrating how digital trade facilitation can reduce opportunities for corruption by replacing paper-based processes with more transparent and accountable procedures. Actionable recommendations for Customs and business Customs Digitalise Enhance legal safeguards Raise awareness Address small facilitation payments Publish on a publicly available website Foster a transparent zero-tolerance culture Establish robust feedback mechanisms Increase cross-border collaboration Monitor and evaluate Business Advocate Participate in integrity awareness Apply a risk-based approach Automate processes Develop compliance programmes and controls Prohibit and discourage the use of small facilitation payments Monitor and evaluate Foster a transparent zero tolerance for corruption culture