cybersecurity FTA

Comparing Digital Rules in Trade Agreements

Comparing Digital Rules in Trade Agreements

Parties signing free trade agreements (FTAs) have begun adding new rules to regulate and harmonize provisions of importance to companies trying to operate across multiple jurisdictions.  The latest Issue Paper, from the Asia Business Trade Association, highlights the similarities and differences between this set of cutting-edge agreements in some of the keys areas of interest to digital trade.  Table 1 identifies sixteen key digital provisions across seven FTAs. All seven FTAs, described more fully below, have only two provisions in common.  All contain provisions to include the elimination of customs duties on digital products or electronic transactions, and cooperation elements.  The remaining 14 elements, however, show variation across the FTAs under examination. The United States/Canada/Mexico (USMCA) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), show the most advanced provisions under review in this paper.  Both agreements, as an example, include safeguards to protect developers’ rights over their software source code against the demands of disclosure. In addition, the USMCA incorporates source code-related algorithms into the subject of protection, which makes this FTA distinct from previous agreements. This amendment should facilitate implementation by providing greater clarification on source code.