Digital & Paperless Trade Policy Submissions
Written submissions to Transport Canada’s Strengthening One Canadian Economy through Trade and Transportation consultation, May to July 2026
About These Submissions
Between May and July 2026, TransPacific Trade Nexus submitted three written contributions to Transport Canada’s Strengthening One Canadian Economy through Trade and Transportation consultation.
The submissions address the implementation of digital and paperless trade in Canada, with particular emphasis on execution grade digital trade infrastructure, interoperability, international standards, SME usability, trusted electronic records, data sovereignty, and the design and evaluation of potential pilot pathways.
The three documents form a continuous contribution to the consultation record. The May submission sets out the core policy position. The June supplement develops methods for assessing interoperability and pilot performance. The July supplement adds independent implementation evidence from the United Kingdom.
Public record note: The submissions were transmitted to Transport Canada on May 19, June 19, and July 13, 2026, respectively, and receipt was acknowledged by Transport Canada. They are published here in their original submitted form for transparency and public reference. Publication does not imply endorsement, acceptance, adoption, pilot authorization, procurement interest, or any other commitment by Transport Canada or the Government of Canada.
May 19, 2026
Written Submission
Strengthening One Canadian Economy through Trade and Transportation
Input on the digital and paperless trade elements of the proposed reforms
The initial submission identifies the execution gap between paperless trade and the practical ability of Canadian SMEs to complete compliant, auditable cross border transactions. It addresses standards fragmentation, interoperability, trusted record portability, sovereignty, legislative coordination, and the potential role of a defined scope pilot.
The submission argues that paperless trade is necessary but not sufficient, and recommends treating execution grade digital trade infrastructure as a distinct area for policy assessment within Canada’s broader trade diversification agenda.
June 19, 2026
Supplemental Written Submission
Developments in Interoperability, Pilot Evaluation and International Standards
The first supplement builds on the May submission without changing its underlying policy position. It introduces a vendor neutral method for assessing interoperability against MLETR and international data standards, as well as a pre specified framework for evaluating the performance of a scoped digital trade pilot.
It also records eight public contributions to the UN/CEFACT United Nations Transparency Protocol review covering SME usability, evidentiary continuity, identity, selective disclosure, auditability, interoperability, human governed AI, and sovereign data governance.
July 13, 2026
Second Supplemental Written Submission
Independent UK Implementation Evidence
The second supplement adds independent implementation evidence published by the United Kingdom Department for Business and Trade following enactment of the UK Electronic Trade Documents Act.
The evidence reinforces the earlier position that legal recognition alone does not resolve SME adoption, interoperability, fragmented systems, repeated data entry, or cross border usability. It supports a coordinated approach to legal recognition, standards alignment, intermediary participation, SME usability, and operational testing.
One Continuous Policy Position
The three submissions form a continuous contribution to the consultation record.
May 19, 2026: Identified the execution gap between paperless trade and usable digital trade infrastructure, and proposed an assessment pathway.
June 19, 2026: Added methods for assessing interoperability and evaluating a controlled pilot against defined criteria.
July 13, 2026: Added independent implementation evidence supporting the position already placed on the consultation record.
Together, the submissions address legal recognition, standards alignment, interoperability, SME usability, data sovereignty, auditability, and the practical requirements for testing digital trade infrastructure before broader implementation decisions are made.
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