Trade Process Analysis Database (TPAD)

Moving goods across borders requires meeting a vast number of commercial, transport, and regulatory requirements, which typically entail complex procedures and often a large number of documents. While most actors and regulators along the international supply chain are aware of the need to streamline import and export procedures, few, if any, have a complete understanding of the entire trade transaction process, making it difficult to identify the bottlenecks and to prioritize reforms. 

UNNExT Business Process Analysis (BPA) of Trade Procedures has proved to be an effective tool to provide detailed understanding of international trade transactions, and is regarded as the first step to be conducted before undertaking other trade facilitation measures. Over 50 import and export processes have been studied using BPA since 2009 by international organizations such as ESCAP, ECE, ADB, and their member states.

In order to record existing and future studies on trade processes and procedures in a systematic manner and further support evidence-based policy making, the current Trade Process Analysis Database (TPAD) has been developed by ESCAP. This database enables users to search for information on a particular trade procedure they are interested in. 

TPAD is supplemented by a policy brief "Insights from ESCAP's Trade Process Analysis Database".

Kindly note: For any inquiries on TPAD, please contact Mr. Tengfei Wang, Economic Affairs Officer, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ([email protected]).