DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL COMPETITION: TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS AND INVESTMENT PRIORITIES

Abstract

In today's world, globalization and digital technologies are significantly transforming the landscape of international trade. Digital transformation has become a critical aspect that determines the competitiveness of countries and businesses in the international arena. The study aims to identify the impact of the digitalization of international trade on the economic development of countries and their competitiveness based on technological innovations that determine the future of global competition at the country and company levels, affect trade processes, and identify and justify investment priorities to support digital transformation in Ukraine.The study analyzes the impact of the digitalization of international trade on the economic development of countries, which is caused by the digital divide between developed and least developed countries (LDCs). Developed countries are characterized by Internet coverage and access of more than 90%, as opposed to LDCs, where the corresponding figure is less than 20%. Given the current conditions of access to the Internet, the countries of the latter group are not able to be fully involved in e-commerce and cross-border trade in digital products. An additional barrier to developing digital commerce in certain regions of the world is the need for more legislation on various e-commerce trade issues.The impact of the war in Ukraine on the e-commerce market is determined: the e-commerce market declined 12 times in 2022 compared to the pre-war period and began to recover gradually in 2023. The market is expected to recover almost fully in Ukraine by the end of 2023 or early 2024. The main challenge for Ukraine will be to expand the scope of the existing free trade agreements to cover services, e-commerce, and investment. Ukraine should become a significant player in several global markets for services and digital products, given the availability of an updated regulatory framework on these issues. E-commerce is expected to grow rapidly after the end of the war in Ukraine.