New Delhi, July 1 -- As geopolitical tensions, tariff disputes, and a weakening multilateral trading system reshape global commerce, the next phase of cross-border trade will depend less on politics than on common digital standards and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) rules, according to Harsh Pati Singhania, the newly elected chairman of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Singhania, chairman and managing director of JK Paper Ltd, told Mint that one of his key priorities during his two-year tenure would be accelerating the adoption of digital trade standards to simplify cross-border commerce, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"Trade documentation is still 80-90% paper-based. Our objective is to digitise...