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e-commerce | digital economy


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.
Upgrade the Australia-China FTA and share the prosperity of the Chinese fintech industry
Can the Australia-China trade deal facilitate Australian businesses and share the prosperity of Chinese FinTech industry? Answering this question requires looking into the chapters of investment, trade in services (especially financial service) and e-commerce.
Did data and e-commerce issues also influence India’s RCEP exit
India has decided to pull out of the RCEP, an invitation to join later still standing. Even though the reasons provided for this fallout do not mention it, but one of the major contentions was the e-commerce chapter to which India did not relent.
New rules on IP rights and e-commerce to be set under RCEP free trade agreement
A common set of rules on intellectual property (IP) and e-commerce and a new scope of trade for telecommunication services are among some of the expected benefits that will arise from the RCEP agreement when it is signed next year.
RCEP: As deadline looms, trade unions call out dangerous clauses
Negotiators representing 16 countries have been tasked with arriving at an agreement on the controversial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership by October 19 but trade unions say the deal has grave consequences.
RCEP: India must protect its ICT industry
If India is going ahead with RCEP negotiations, India must insist on rules of origin mandating significant domestic value addition in the country of the final exporter as well as strengthen bilateral mechanisms for ensuring compliance.
RCEP meet to end inconclusive; India may fail to protect local digital data
RCEP meet: India had proposed certain tweaks in the negotiating text of electronic commerce during the 9th Intersessional Ministerial Meeting.
India wants data localisation in RCEP for security interests
India has proposed locating computing facilities inside the country if it is meant to protect its essential security interests and national interests at the the ongoing negotiations of the proposed RCEP trade agreement.
US using trade deals to shield tech giants from foreign regulations
The US administration’s push is the latest salvo in a global fight over who sets the rules for the Internet.
US, Japan sign trade deals
President Trump oversaw the signing of two limited trade deals with Japan, slashing tariffs on $7.2 billion worth of America’s agricultural exports, but avoiding thorny issues such as auto tariffs.
US-Japan digital trade agreement text (2019)
As published by the Office of the United States Trade Representative
Don’t trade our lives away in free trade negotiations
To sign the RCEP and start negotiations on a FTA with the US when the Indian economy is on the brink of economic downturn and needs strong domestic policies is a decision that is not in national or public interest.
US, India keen to wrap up trade deal
Both countries are frantically working on ways to resolve long-disputed trade issues, especially relating to medical devices, agriculture, and e-commerce.