Addressing the Digital Divide in the Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce
From enabling issues to data and source code provisions
This paper examines the evolution of the "digital divide" concept, especially given the ongoing negotiations among a group of WTO members for new, binding e-commerce rules. This process is known as the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce, which began in 2017 in the form of exploratory discussions. The authors also consider how the digital divide has been treated under the World Trade Organization's Work Programme on E-Commerce, launched in 1998.
As an integral part of its analysis, the paper examines textual proposals raised under the current Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) negotiations, especially those submissions on data flows, data localization, and source code. The authors also consider how the digital divide is treated under meeting agendas and other key documents.
This material has been produced with funding by UK aid from the United Kingdom government. The Umbrella Grant is a project of the Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2+) and is implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, in consortium with CUTS International, Geneva; BKP Economic Advisors; and InterAnalysis. This paper benefited from peer review, contributions, and editorial support from Yasmin Ismail (who also contributed substantive inputs), Soledad Leal Campos, Sofía Baliño, Susan Joekes, Rashmi Jose, Rashid S. Kaukab, and Julien Grollier, among others.
Views expressed in the publication are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect HM Government’s official positions or those of TAF2+.
You might also be interested in
Investment Facilitation: Making sense of concepts, discussions and processes
This background note provides an overview of discussions on investment at the global level in order to better understand and place the current discussions on investment facilitation.
Joint Statement on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: History and latest developments in the Informal Working Group
This brief outlines the history and developments of MSME-related discussions in the World Trade Organization (WTO) context, looking specifically at MSME-related issues at the WTO as well as in other forums and contexts.
Trade Agreements and the World Trade Organization: Lessons for the Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises Joint Statement Initiative
This paper examines the provisions that relate to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in regional trade agreements and the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements.
The Proposed Multilateral Framework on Investment Facilitation
This paper examines the proposed multilateral framework on investment facilitation and how it relates to existing trade and investment agreements.