Global trade drives economic growth by linking exporters and importers globally. However, it comes with risks like payment delays, liquidity issues, and delivery uncertainties that can disrupt transactions. Trade finance has a critical role in managing these risks and enables businesses to confidently engage in cross-border trade.

International trade has been a powerful driver of economic development, lifting over a billion people out of poverty since 1990, according to the World Bank. However, despite its importance, trade finance faces a persistent $2.5 trillion gap globally, limiting the ability of many businesses, especially in developing markets, to participate fully in international commerce, says the new white paper launched by the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT).

Six months into a conflict that began with the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s economy has buckled under the combined weight of American military operations and what the Trump administration calls “economic D-Day.”

Time flies! The Currency Research’s 10th Central Bank Payments Conference wrapped last yesterday in Istanbul after two and a half days of discussion, debate and, importantly, some very practical conversations about where payments are heading. Note that Chatham House rules apply, so no specific views are attributed to a particular person, role, or country. You will just have to attend next year!

Agentic commerce has cleared its first hurdle, that of consumer demand. ChatGPT handles an estimated 50m shopping queries a day, and AI-referred traffic to US retail sites rose by nearly 400% in the first quarter of 2026. The unresolved question is where that demand settles once a purchase is made. The early evidence points to the scaled, branded marketplace.

Singapore and Indonesia have operationalised a framework enabling bilateral transactions between the two countries to be settled in their respective local currencies.

Hedging is a way for businesses to protect themselves against price changes. It describes specific instruments and strategies companies can use to neutralise or significantly mitigate the adverse effects of market volatility.

Over multiple sessions, leading professionals and visionary thought leaders will examine emerging trends, regulatory shifts, new technologies, and the ripple effects of global economic changes.

Trade Treasury Payments (TTP) is excited to be on the ground as an official media partner to unpack the knowledge and connect with experts to bring the latest updates on the Credit & Surety industry!

Agenda: https://lnkd.in/eFP4UC4j

🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/eUWHhPyf

BNP Paribas and HSBC have completed the first live corporate treasury payment for Siemens using Swift’s ledger, moving funds from Siemens’ euro account in France to its sterling account in the UK.

What makes the transaction notable is that Siemens used its existing banking channels, with no new accounts, wallets or changes to its operating processes.

Pierre Fersztand of BNP Paribas called it a “significant milestone” in the evolution of cross-border payments, while HSBC’s Lewis Lei Sun highlighted the potential for tokenised deposits to enable secure, real-time, 24/7 payments within existing banking infrastructure.

Swift’s Raphaël MAREK added that the ledger is designed for interoperability from the outset, with 24/7 payments serving as just the first use case.
The bigger question now: how far can shared ledger infrastructure take corporate treasury?

News reported by Devanshee Dave for Trade Treasury Payments (TTP)

Trade Treasury Payments presents Issue 05 Fine Print, a publication exploring the deeper forces shaping global trade, treasury and payments at a time of rapid change across financial markets. This edition looks beyond surface level headlines to examine the structural realities influencing liquidity, cross border finance, payment systems and risk management. Through expert analysis and industry reporting, it highlights how finance professionals are navigating an increasingly complex environment where regulation, digital infrastructure and global economic uncertainty continue to reshape decision making.

The issue brings together a broad range of perspectives on the future of trade finance, treasury operations and payment innovation, covering subjects such as digital trade adoption, foreign exchange risk, fraud prevention, supply chain finance, private credit and the evolving legal frameworks surrounding modern financial instruments. With coverage spanning global markets and emerging economies, the publication offers practical insight into the trends, challenges and strategic shifts defining the future of real economy finance in 2026.