FIATA and the Global Shippers Forum have introduced a signable version of their Data Governance Charter, giving formal weight to a set of principles first published in 2023 and widely supported across the sector. The move marks a new phase in the logistics industry’s effort to manage trade data more responsibly as supply chains become more digital.
The original charter laid out a framework for how commercial data should be handled, protected and used fairly. By making it signable, FIATA is now turning those shared principles into a practical accountability tool. Partner organisations can formally endorse the charter, while FIATA will progressively require software providers working within its ecosystem to align with it as part of their engagement.
The charter is built around five core principles: data ownership, permission requirements for storage and analysis, duty of care in data protection, breach reporting obligations, and fair market responsibilities for large platform operators. Together, these measures are intended to protect digital platform users, including shippers, freight forwarders and other supply chain participants, from unauthorised or unfair commercial use of their data by third-party platforms.
Dr Stéphane Graber, Director General of FIATA, said data has become one of the most valuable assets in global trade and must be treated accordingly. He said the signable charter sends a clear message that responsible data governance is no longer optional, but a fundamental expectation for anyone working with FIATA, while reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to ensuring the forwarding community retains ownership and control of its data.
James Hookham, Director of the Global Shippers Forum, said the charter gives shippers a practical reference point as more transactions shift to digital systems. He noted that it can serve as a checklist for protections that should appear in end-user agreements offered by platform providers, helping companies identify which systems offer sufficient safeguards and which do not.
By signing the charter, organisations formally commit to transparency, trust and responsible data governance in international trade. FIATA said its phased implementation approach is designed to give partners time to align, while making clear that data protection and fair data practices are becoming a non-negotiable foundation for collaboration across the logistics sector.
