Legal
Adoption of the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents
TT Talk looked at the implications of the landmark United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, which extends the long-established bene fi ts of maritime bills of lading to all modes of transport
become increasingly important in global commerce as new trade routes (often serving land-locked countries) open up across Africa, central Asia and Europe. Organisations such as the International Chamber of Commerce Banking Commission and Global Shippers Forum support the ratification of the Convention as it facilitates access for shippers to trade finance to improve the efficiency of their supply chains, whilst providing the certainty and security of a harmonised legal framework to their bankers. The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has also been heavily involved in the shaping of the Convention, given the opportunities and benefits it offers to freight forwarders and transport operators to improve and enhance end-to-
O n 15 December 2025, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents (the Convention). This is a landmark convention, extending the long-established benefits of maritime bills of lading to all modes of transport. It was developed under the auspices of UNCITRAL, which is the legal body at the United Nations responsible for modernising and harmonising international trade law. It will be open to countries for signature after a ceremony to be held later in 2026 in Accra, Ghana,
and will enter into force 180 days after ten countries have ratified it. The Convention creates a new type of cargo document (paper or electronic), which enables cargo carried by road, rail, air, sea, or a combination thereof, to be purchased, sold or used as collateral for trade finance whilst in transit. Maritime practice fl exibility Whilst this practice has long been in place for maritime trade under bills of lading, the same flexibility has not previously existed for other modes of transport. This has
30 | April 2026
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