Global Trade State Exchange Framework
GTSE is a protocol-neutral reference model for the trusted and boundary-preserving exchange of purpose-specific state representations across domains. Built on Data Physics and Trust at Source, it does not prescribe a particular data model, credential format, registry, platform or governance arrangement.
Why State Exchange?
Traditional digital interactions often rely on isolated records, static reports, repeated data replication and direct transfer of information between systems.
In industrial contexts, this approach is often insufficient.
Product data is connected to physical products, production processes, supply-chain actors, operational states, evidence materials, responsibility boundaries, data boundaries and jurisdictional constraints.
GTSE describes an alternative approach: instead of transferring all source-side data, a relevant product state may be represented through a purpose-specific trusted state representation for a defined external use context.
These representations may include product attributes, lifecycle states, event-based records, compliance-related assertions, carbon-related data elements, evidence references and machine-readable state projections.
By exchanging trusted state representations rather than high-resolution operational datasets, the framework supports:
Data Minimization
Reducing unnecessary exposure of source-side information while still enabling external reliance.
Verifiability
Supporting trusted, auditable and digitally verifiable state representations.
Ecosystem Independence
Allowing participants to retain control over source systems, local data governance and organizational boundaries.
Continuous Alignment
Supporting alignment between physical products, operational events, lifecycle transitions and digital state representations over time.
Framework Layers
GTSE Framework consists of five logical layers.
How to Read the Five-Layer Model
The five-layer view is an analytical decomposition of the concepts, logical relationships, possible implementation capabilities and application contexts associated with trusted state exchange.
It is not a mandatory technology stack, deployment sequence or platform architecture. Implementations may combine, omit or distribute these capabilities according to their own governance, regulatory and technical environments.
Layer 0 — Data Physics
Foundational theory
Provides the conceptual basis for understanding data as a representation of the state and state changes of physical entities.
Data Physics informs the GTSE reference model but does not prescribe an exchange protocol, data format or software component.
Layer 1 — State Projection and Representation Framework
Core representation relationships
Describes how a relevant state of an identifiable entity may be represented for a defined purpose, time and receiving context.
A trusted representation may include references to the responsible actor, supporting evidence, verification status and applicable update, correction or revocation information.
Layer 2 — Optional Trusted Execution Capabilities
Optional implementation capabilities
Illustrates optional organizational and technical capabilities that may support the formation, protection, verification or delivery of trusted state representations.
These capabilities may be implemented through different combinations of organizational processes, local applications, gateways, identity services, access controls, digital signatures or other mechanisms. GTSE does not require a specific infrastructure component, operator or deployment model.
Layer 3 — Trust Exchange
Abstract exchange and verification functions
Describes the abstract relationship between a source domain, a receiving domain, a trusted representation, a verification function and the governance boundaries within which the information is produced and used.
GTSE does not operate an exchange network, registry or verification service. These functions may be implemented by different ecosystem participants and technical systems.
Layer 4 — Applications and Ecosystems
External application contexts
Illustrates contexts in which trusted state representations may be used, including Digital Product Passports, battery information, sustainability reporting, carbon disclosure, supply-chain assurance and other cross-domain applications.
These examples are application contexts rather than components of the GTSE core. Their data requirements, legal responsibilities and governance arrangements remain defined by the relevant regulations, standards and ecosystem participants.
Optional Technical Bindings
The abstract relationships described by GTSE may be mapped to different technical and semantic approaches, including:
Verifiable Credentials, signed JSON, GS1 EPCIS, UNTP, Asset Administration Shells, data spaces and conventional APIs.
These are optional bindings and implementation references. No single protocol, credential format or platform defines the GTSE model.
Design Objectives
The framework is guided by a set of engineering objectives.
Source-Domain Control
Supporting trusted exchange while preserving local data governance, enterprise autonomy and source-side boundaries.
Data Minimization
Exchanging only necessary, purpose-specific and appropriately structured state representations.
Verifiability
Supporting integrity, authenticity, traceability and auditability through appropriate evidence, governance and technical mechanisms.
Interoperability
Supporting cooperation across heterogeneous systems, standards, platforms and digital ecosystems.
Open Collaboration
Complementing existing initiatives, standards, protocols and application providers rather than replacing them.
Relationship to Existing Ecosystems
GTSE does not replace ERP systems, MES platforms, PLM environments, Digital Product Passport service providers, Battery Passport ecosystems, certification bodies, carbon accounting tools, verifiable credential frameworks, regulatory registries or sector-specific application platforms.
Instead, the framework is intended to complement these systems by offering a conceptual reference for the projection, representation and exchange of trusted product-related state across domains.
Trust at Source examines the conditions under which product-related information may be relied upon before external handover.
GTSE examines how trusted state representations may be exchanged across organizations, platforms, jurisdictions and trust domains while preserving source-side boundaries.
Application-layer services, including DPP user interfaces, registry submission, certification workflows, carbon footprint calculations, buyer assurance processes and sector-specific compliance activities, remain the responsibility of the relevant ecosystem participants.
Framework Paper
The Global Trade State Exchange (GTSE) Framework v0.1 has been published as a Bita Trust Framework Paper.
Scope and Implementation Boundary
GTSE is a conceptual and architectural reference model. It does not constitute a global exchange network, certification scheme, conformity-assessment mechanism, regulatory registry or commercial platform.
Responsibility for data accuracy, legal compliance, verification, market placement and regulatory acceptance remains with the relevant actors, authorities and ecosystem participants.
Implementations may adopt different technologies, governance models and deployment architectures while preserving the trust-relevant relationships described by GTSE.