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e-commerce | digital economy


Why Kenya must keep an eye on data rules in US trade deal talks
The US aims to establish commitments to ensure Kenya refrains from imposing measures that restrict cross-border data flows and does not require the use of installation of local computing facilities.
Digital trade agreement signed with Chile and Singapore
New Zealand’s government has today signed a digital trade agreement with Chile and Singapore.
US, Brazil push for a mini deal
US and Brazilian officials are working on a deal covering trade facilitation, digital trade and regulatory practices, with a target for the end of the year, a top Brazilian diplomat said.
Digital trade rules and Big Tech: Surrendering public good to private power
As tech giants emerge as the undisputed winners of the Covid-19 crisis, they continue to use free trade agreements to protect themselves from regulation.
e-Commerce free trade agreements, digital chapters and the impact on labour
A comparative analysis of treaty texts and their potential practical implications.
E-Commerce protocol incorporated into AfCFTA phase III
The acceptance of the e-commerce protocol came about during the 33rd AU Ordinary Session recently held in Ethiopia.
Singapore, Australia agree to promote data connectivity, digital economy
Singapore and Australia have committed to allowing financial institutions to choose where their data is stored and prohibiting data localisation, among a raft of other agreements.
US statement at the EU trade policy review
The US is troubled by the EU’s non-tariff barriers that impede the use of modern agricultural tools and technologies such as biotechnology, veterinary drugs and pathogen reduction treatments.
India offers US dairy, chicken access in bid for elusive trade deal with Trump
India has offered to partially open up its poultry and dairy markets in a bid for a limited trade deal during US President Donald Trump’s first official visit.
UK keen on digital economy partnership with Singapore
Britain is looking at the digital economy as an area to strengthen its relationship with Singapore as both sides negotiate a new post-Brexit trade deal.
Important differences between the final RCEP electronic commerce chapter and the TPPA and lessons for e-commerce in the WTO
The US Mexico Canada Agreement extended the TPPA’s digital trade rules to provide even more extensive guarantees the already-dominant technology corporations. The RCEP puts a break on those developments.
RCEP e-commerce chapter text (Feb 2020)
Final text of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), presumably subject to technical legal review
Economic diplomacy: APEC’s future, digital trade deals, and green debt
Malaysian PM Mahathir controls the credibility of APEC, and China controls how emerging economies cut carbon emissions.
Letter of 17 EU ministers on data flows
A group of 17 EU countries sent a letter to the European Commission, asking for more emphasis on data in future trade deals.
Singapore concludes talks on digital trade agreement with Chile, New Zealand
Singapore, Chile and New Zealand concluded talks on an agreement over a common set of rules, standards and guidelines for global digital trade and commerce.
S. Korea, China, Japan divided over open data in trilateral FTA talks
South Korea, China and Japan have made some progress in negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) following the trilateral summit held late last year.
Understanding the European Union’s understanding on computer and related services
If adopted on a wide scale, the Understanding would consolidate power and control over the digital ecosystem, including of data, in the major powers and more specifically, their corporations.
The European Commission is urging Canada to adopt stricter piracy rules
Canada’s intellectual protection rights system was also slammed for being too clement.
The US-China trade deal phase two – digital trade, intellectual property, cyber intrusions, and a bilateral investment treaty
The phase two agreement is to be digitally focused and could include a US-China bilateral trade agreement.
US to drop item on tax-free threshold from North American trade pact: sources
The Trump administration has agreed to drop a footnote from the US-Mexico-Canada trade deal that would have let it lower the $800 tax-free threshold for imported goods.