A nation’s efficient participation in global supply chains and accelerated economic growth are driven by trade facilitation. Paperless trade has been a significant reform under the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement. Quantifying its potential efficiency in global trade dynamics is essential for informed policy. Therefore, this study undertakes an empirical estimation from India’s perspective to understand how the paperless and cross-border paperless reforms have enhanced its efficiency in countries’ export–import movements over its other major trading partners. Central to the paper’s argument, the study reveals a paradox in paperless-border realities. While this paper captures the positive implications of the reforms, it also highlights the key challenges that hinder the seamless movement of cargo across borders. This study also identifies bottlenecks and highlights an asymmetric pattern of efficiency gains for India, depending on the size of its partner countries’ economies. Therefore, strengthening cross-border interoperability and digital and physical infrastructure is essential to ensure that India’s paperless trade reforms translate into faster, cheaper, and more reliable trade flows with key partners.