WASHINGTON – November 20, 2020 – The Global Data Alliance welcomes this week’s WTO announcement of progress in the so-called “Joint Statement Initiative” digital trade talks, and applauds the continued leadership of co-convenors Australia, Japan, and Singapore in this initiative to build a modern set of new digital trade rules to unlock the potential of the digital economy. The Global Data Alliance encourages active and collaborative engagement among all negotiating parties to prohibit unnecessary or discriminatory data localization mandates and data transfer restrictions in all sectors.

“The JSI talks are a unique opportunity to fully realize the potential of cross-border access to technology and the trusted movement of data,” said Joseph Whitlock, Director, Policy at BSA | The Software Alliance. “What is needed to bring certainty and economic opportunity to all participating economies are meaningful data-related disciplines. These should be guided by principles of transparency and interoperability among legal frameworks, as well as limits on unnecessary or discriminatory measures.”

Digital networks lie at the heart of today’s interconnected global economy: They support millions of daily transactions occurring all over the world, across every sector and at every stage of the value chain, including at the R&D, product design, regulatory approval, manufacturing, finance, marketing, sales, and post-sale service stages. Cross-border data transfers are already estimated to contribute trillions of dollars to global GDP. 60 percent of global GDP is expected to be digitized by 2022, and 6 billion consumers and 25 billion devices are expected to be digitally connected by 2025. Furthermore, 75 percent of the value of data transfers accrues to traditional industries like agriculture, logistics, and manufacturing. The ability to transfer data across borders also directly contributes to important policy objectives relating to the protection of privacy, security, and regulatory compliance.

About the Global Data Alliance

The Global Data Alliance (globaldataalliance.org) is a cross-industry coalition of companies that are committed to high standards of data responsibility and that rely on the ability to transfer data around the world to innovate and create jobs. The Alliance supports policies that help instill trust in the digital economy while safeguarding the ability to transfer data across borders and refraining from imposing data localization requirements that restrict trade.

Alliance members include BSA members and American Express, Amgen, AT&T, Citi, ITB360, LEGO, Mastercard, Medtronic, Panasonic, Pfizer, Roche, UDS Technology, United Airlines, Verizon, VISA, and WD-40 Company. These companies are headquartered across the globe and are active in the advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, electronics, energy, financial services, health, supply chain, and telecommunications sectors, among others. BSA | The Software Alliance administers the Global Data Alliance.