JAN 26, 2021 | GLOBAL
Business Letter to WTO E-Commerce Negotiators
Politico, January 26, 2021
By Steven Overly
Trade groups representing a broad swath of industries are calling on the WTO’s member countries to prohibit laws that restrict the flow of data across borders.
They also want to see countries adopt laws that encourage transparency and interoperability while also protecting users’ personal information. The International Chamber of Commerce and BSA | The Software Alliance spearheaded the new letter, and gathered signatures from associations across six continents, representing film, manufacturing, tech, automobiles and more.
“In today’s remote environment, our jobs, health, education, and well-being depend on digital connectivity and data flows like never before,” BSA President and CEO Victoria Espinel said in a statement. “We urge governments to negotiate WTO commitments that support the seamless and secure cross-border movement of information.”
The WTO’s negotiations over e-commerce rules began in earnest in 2018. The 80-plus member nations are expected to reveal “concrete results” at the next ministerial meeting, which is scheduled for June but could be delayed until December due to coronavirus.
Original Posting: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter/2021/01/commerce-nominee-raimondo-faces-the-senate-792985
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BSA | The Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the leading advocate for the global software industry before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members are among the world’s most innovative companies, creating software solutions that help businesses of all sizes in every part of the economy to modernize and grow.
With headquarters in Washington, DC, and operations in more than 30 countries, BSA pioneers compliance programs that promote legal software use and advocates for public policies that foster technology innovation and drive growth in the digital economy.