Global Cooperation Is Holding Steady But Its Shape Is Evolving

©iStock/wildpixel

New research from McKinsey and the World Economic Forum finds that global cooperation is holding steady, but its shape is evolving. 

Read The Global Cooperation Barometer 2026, which shows that overall cooperation is largely unchanged from previous years, but its composition appears to be changing.

An Electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) Would Save $6.5 Billion in Direct Costs and Enable $40 billion in Global Trade

©iStock/nazarkru

Trade finance can be a huge booster to global trade—to make it accessible by ensuring that importers receive their goods and exporters receive their payments. But the core ecosystem—exporters, importers and banks—is complicated with multiple parties involved in a single transaction.

But according to a CEO of a global trade finance network, there are three factors at play that he thinks will reshape the future of trade finance. 

1.  There are still huge opportunities to digitize trade finance.
2.  Integration between financial institutions and fintechs will be key to future growth.

For example, one area is digitizing documentation and the bill of lading (BL). According to McKinsey, an electronic bill of lading (eBL) would save $6.5 billion in direct costs and enable $40 billion in global trade.

3.  The next wave of innovation in trade finance is in digital assets.

Read more here.