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e-commerce | digital economy

AfCFTA digital trade protocol: Unveiling critical flaws
9-Apr-2024 bilaterals.org
In the turbulent waters of the digital economy, where technological innovation is outpacing regulatory frameworks, the leaked African Continental Free Trade Area protocol on digital trade raises deep concerns.
WTO electronic commerce draft Chair’s text (27 March 2024)
2-Apr-2024
EU-Chile trade agreement: broad cross-border data flow commitment with country without adequacy status
1-Apr-2024 Vrijschrift
The European Parliament gave consent to the EU - Chile trade agreement. The agreement’s digital chapter contains a new, broad cross-border data flow commitment, while Chile does not have a data protection adequacy status.
The AfCFTA’s digital `trade rules are not fit for Africa
29-Feb-2024 AfronomicsLaw
African heads of state are slated to meet this weekend for the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union and they could be prompted to make an unforced error that could weigh heavily in the continent’s plans to promote digital industrialization and the bridging of the digital divide.
WTO electronic commerce negotiations (draft chair’s text, 21 February 2024)
23-Feb-2024
AfCFTA: Digital trade protocol (draft, Feb 2024)
14-Feb-2024
AfCFTA: Digital trade protocol (draft, Oct 2023)
6-Feb-2024
EU-Japan economic partnership agreement: EU and Japan sign protocol to include cross-border data flows
1-Feb-2024 Council of the EU
The Belgian Presidency of the Council has signed the protocol to include provisions on cross-border data flows in the agreement between the EU and Japan for an Economic Partnership.
Interim analysis of JSI E-commerce Chairs’ text 15 January 2024, INF/ECOM/85
30-Jan-2024
The 15 January 2024 chair’s text (INF/ECOM/85) for the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on electronic commerce is to be discussed in a round from 30 January to 2 February 2024.
WTO electronic commerce draft Chair’s text (Jan 2024)
29-Jan-2024
AfCFTA secretariat set to establish protocol on digital trade this month, says Wamkele Mene
27-Jan-2024 Asaase Radio
The secretary general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, has said the secretariat is set to establish a protocol on digital trade this month.
PHL-US FTA needs to be tech-focused — DTI
23-Jan-2024 Business World
The agreement should emphasize technological innovation, research and development (R&D), education, and the integration of emerging technologies in trade, Trade Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba said.
Overview of the implications for developing countries/LDCs of the JSI E-commerce text (Revision 5)
18-Dec-2023
Developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) face growing pressure to participate in and adopt the outcomes of plurilateral negotiations on electronic commerce.
S. Korea, EU hold first round of talks on digital trade
13-Dec-2023 Yonhap
South Korea’s trade ministry launched the first round of talks on digital trade with the European Union in line with efforts to seek broader partnerships in online and data industries.
WTO electronic commerce negotiating text (rev.5, Nov 2023)
27-Nov-2023
46 AfCFTA members sign cooperation protocols to support e-commerce in Africa: Afreximbank
22-Nov-2023 Daily News
Emily Mburu-Ndoria, Director of Trade in Services, Investment, IPR, and Digital Trade at the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), announced that several cooperation protocols have been signed to support and finance e-commerce in Africa.
US suspends Indo-Pacific talks on key aspects of digital trade -lawmakers
8-Nov-2023 Reuters
The Biden administration has suspended talks on some key digital trade aspects of its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework initiative, Democratic lawmakers said on Tuesday as negotiators from 14 countries race to finish some agreements ahead of a major Pacific Rim summit next week.
S. Korea, EU to launch talks for digital trade agreement
31-Oct-2023 Yonhap
South Korea’s trade ministry agreed with the European Union to launch negotiations for a digital trade agreement in line with efforts to seek broader partnerships in online commerce and data industries.
EU, Japan conclude agreement on data flows, EU says
30-Oct-2023 Reuters
The European Union and Japan concluded an agreement on cross-border data flows, which should drive business and may help shape global rules for data, the European Commission said.
US drops digital trade demands at WTO to allow room for stronger tech regulation
27-Oct-2023 Reuters
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai has dropped longstanding US digital trade demands in World Trade Organization talks in order to give Congress room to regulate big tech firms.