INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS ASSOCIATIONS (FIATA)

國際貨運代理協會聯合會 Updated 22 Oct 2026

·     UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents Opens for Signature

The United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, also known as the Accra Convention on NCDs, will open for signature on 26 October 2026, with an official signing ceremony taking place in Accra, Ghana. The Convention establishes a harmonised and technology-neutral legal framework for negotiable cargo documents across all modes of transport, in both paper and electronic form.

FIATA has published a range of resources explaining the Convention, its benefits for international trade and the importance of its ratification, including:

· FAQs on the Convention, available in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic

· A joint letter to governments encouraging ratification, as well as a one-page briefing note for governments, available upon request at legal@fiata.org

An overview of progress by States in becoming parties to the Convention can be found on the official NCD Convention Tracker. FIATA members are invited to contact FIATA in case of progress made in their local contexts, including on domestic awareness activities and/or political support, so that the tracker can be updated accordingly.

Further practical guidance on the implementation and use of Negotiable Cargo Documents under the Convention is currently being developed by FIATA, the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). These materials will be made available to FIATA Members as they become available.

FIATA Members requiring assistance or support in engaging with their governments to promote ratification are invited to contact legal@fiata.org.