EU and Canada launch negotiations for a Digital Trade Agreement

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/7675271

The EU and Canada have begun to negotiate a so-called ‘Digital Trade Agreement’ (DTA), alongside Europe’s clash with the US on digital regulation.

The DTA is to boost legal certainty and fair digital trade across the Atlantic Ocean.

Negotiations for the new deal were announced on Friday (6 March) and will build on the 2017 EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

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The aim of the collaboration is to create digital consumer protection, add legal certainty for businesses operating digitally (for example, clarifying the legality of electronic signatures, contracts, and invoices), and to achieve fair digital trade, shielded from protectionist data or digital practices.

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Digital trade is growing in size and importance, with over 60% of global GDP linked to digital transactions. The EU is the world's leading exporter and importer of digitally deliverable services. As of 2023, 54 % of the EU's service trade was conducted digitally, amounting to €670 billion in imports and €661 billion in exports from outside the EU. This includes, for example, telecommunication services, computer and information services, and other services that are typically delivered digitally (financial services, insurance and pension services, etc).

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