The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a convention granting legal recognition to negotiable cargo documents across all transport modes, reported London's Air Cargo News.

The framework allows goods to be bought, sold or used as collateral while in transit. Freight forwarder group FIATA described the move as a milestone for international trade, multimodal transport and the digitalisation of supply chains.

Unlike ocean bills of lading, air waybills and consignment notes issued by rail, road and air carriers have not previously served as documents of title. The new convention establishes negotiable cargo documents as transferable titles representing goods in transit.

FIATA said the convention provides a harmonised and technology-neutral legal framework, applicable to both paper and electronic records. It preserves existing liability regimes while enabling opt-in flexibility for commercial parties.

Benefits include legal recognition of multimodal transport documents, explicit recognition of electronic negotiable records and continuity of liability rules. The convention requires only a notation on bills of lading to apply.

A formal signing ceremony is expected in the second half of 2026. The convention will enter into force once 10 states ratify it. FIATA urged governments and industry to support early ratification and pledged to help operationalise the framework upon entry into force.

Development began in 2024, with approval granted in July 2025 by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.