European Union: European Union and Singapore signed Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) including interoperability requirements

On 7 May 2025, the European Union and Singapore formally signed the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement, which includes provisions concerning interoperability across digital systems. The agreement provides that each Party is to ensure that measures related to electronic invoicing support cross-border compatibility and are based, where appropriate, on international standards and frameworks. It further states that interoperability between electronic payment systems is to be promoted through the use of open platforms, application programming interfaces, and internationally accepted technical standards. The agreement also includes provisions on regulatory cooperation regarding technical standards and conformity assessment procedures, recognising interoperability as a relevant objective. In addition, it encourages the adoption of legal frameworks for electronic transactions that support cross-border compatibility.