What specific rules are being pushed within trade agreements?
Rules will vary across different agreements. Some rules relate to less controversial areas such as e-commerce standards, e-signatures and support for cyber security.
In this section we detail rules which we see as more controversial, and which have broader implications.
Cross-border data flows
Rules which seek to maintain the free-flow of data across borders
Data localisation
Related to national rules which force firms to store data within a territory
Custom duties on digital goods
Rules which prevent countries from applying custom duties on digital goods
Source code/Algorithms
Related to rules that force firms to reveal source code or algorithms as part of market entry
Prior Authorisation
Rules which prevent countries having authorization/regulation schemes for digital, which are exclusively an industrial policy tool.
Non-discrimination of digital products
Rules to ensure that all countries in a trade agreement receive equal treatment for digital products crossing borders