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digital economy | e-commerce

ASEAN digital economy negotiators convene in Manila to advance landmark regional digital trade agreement
12-Mar-2026 PIA
The meetings brought together lead negotiators and legal experts from ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat to advance discussions on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.
Lee, Singapore PM agree to launch FTA upgrade talks, strengthen AI cooperation
12-Mar-2026 Yonhap News Agency
President Lee Jae Myung and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed to launch negotiations to upgrade their countries’ free trade agreement (FTA) and step up cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) during summit talks.
US reciprocal tariffs is illegal, Agreement of Reciprocal Trade must not be ratified
12-Mar-2026 Koalisi Masyarakat untuk Keadilan Ekonomi
The Civil Society Coalition for Economic Justice (Koalisi MKE) urges President Prabowo Subianto not to ratify the reciprocal trade agreement (ART) between Indonesia and the United States (US) signed on February 19, 2026. The 19% tariff reduction obtained by Indonesia in this agreement is not commensurate with the surrender of the country’s sovereignty to US interests.
Seychelles partner with AfCFTA to develop digital trade hub
9-Mar-2026 Wearetech.africa
The AfCFTA Secretariat, Quest Ghana Limited, and the Seychelles government signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the archipelago as a digital trade hub. The initiative focuses on integrating Seychellois businesses into Africa’s digital value chains.
Canada signing agreement with EU to enhance free trade deal
6-Mar-2026 CBC
Trade ministers from Canada and the European Union are set to sign on to a series of improvements to their bilateral trade agreement. Negotiations to add digital trade provisions begin Thursday.
India-EU FTA: What the deal means for digital trade and intellectual property rights
2-Mar-2026 The Week
The deal points to creating a secure digital trade environment by promoting paperless transactions and cyber-security .
New analysis of US-Indonesia trade deal in light of repealed tariffs
27-Feb-2026 Public Citizen
This so-called ‘deal’ is a one-sided neocolonial trap that locks Indonesia into binding, economy-wide concessions to benefit large U.S. corporate interests.
Trade deal binds Dhaka to US tech orbit
24-Feb-2026 The Daily Star
Digital trade rules embedded in Bangladesh’s new agreement with the US may deprive Bangladesh of tax revenues and also limit the expansion of digital economy, say experts.
Kenya launches digital tools to help turn AfCFTA deals into transactions}
20-Feb-2026 Ecofin Agency
Kenya announced the launch of BiasharaLink and Deal House, two digital platforms designed to strengthen economic diplomacy and boost intra-African trade. The initiative seeks to address the execution gap in trade agreements across the continent and to operationalize the AfCFTA.
Digital trade chapter not in India-US interim trade pact; to be taken up in BTA, says official
17-Feb-2026 The Economic Times
India and the US have not yet discussed digital trade in their initial trade agreement. This crucial chapter will be negotiated as part of the larger bilateral trade agreement. US companies are eager to explore India’s rapidly expanding digital trade sector.
US investors escalate legal fight with Seoul over Coupang
13-Feb-2026 The Korea Herald
A growing group of US investors in Coupang Inc. are intensifying a legal dispute with the Korean government over what they call discriminatory action against the company following its massive data breach last year, adding to broader Korea-US tensions.
India to commit zero tax on digital services in trade pact
11-Feb-2026 Financial Express
India will commit to zero tax on digital services and avoid customs duties on digital transmissions under the India-US trade pact, a move that experts warn could limit future policy space as AI and digital services expand.
EU-Korea digital trade agreement
3-Feb-2026 BEUC
While this deal aims to strengthen trust in digital trade, attention needs to be paid to ensure strong and consistent consumer protection on both sides.
EU-Singapore digital trade agreement takes effect
3-Feb-2026 The Edge Malaysia
The EUSDTA delivers high-standard rules for digital trade and facilitates secure flows of data across borders, providing greater legal certainty and clarity for businesses and people transacting in the digital economy.
Trade deals with El Salvador, Guatemala are gifts for tech CEOs
2-Feb-2026 Public Citizen
The Trump administration released a new “Agreement on Reciprocal Trade” with Guatemala, following the nearly identical one released yesterday with El Salvador.
Where is globalisation headed?
31-Jan-2026
The shift in globalisation is not just a bump in the road. It signals a deep transformation of the world economy, its political balances and its power relations.
AfCFTA member states advance digital trade integration
29-Jan-2026 BFT online
Tunisia, Zambia, Senegal, Uganda, Togo, and Angola shared practical experiences in implementing the Digital Trade Protocol. These country presentations demonstrated concrete progress in areas such as digital identity systems, payment infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks that support cross-border digital commerce.
Coupang’s US investors notify S. Korea of plan to seek international arbitration: ministry
23-Jan-2026 Yonhap
The two investors — Greenoaks and Altimeter — took issue with Seoul’s response to the e-commerce giant’s data breach late last year, claiming that it violated obligations under the Korea-US FTA regarding fair and equitable treatment.
Peru set to take part in DEPA: industry ministry
21-Jan-2026 Yonhap News Agency
Peru is set to become the latest member of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), opening new opportunities for South Korea and other member nations, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
US and Taiwan reach trade deal, with semiconductor chips and China in focus
16-Jan-2026 Reuters
The US and Taiwan clinched a trade deal that cuts tariffs on many of the semiconductor powerhouse’s exports, directs new investments in the U.S. technology industry and risks infuriating China.