SINGAPORE, WASHINGTON – May 23, 2022 – The Global Data Alliance congratulates Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam on the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. The IPEF negotiations represent the broadest and most diverse grouping of Indo-Pacific economies to engage in a regional trade negotiation with the United States. “These negotiations present a historic opportunity for like-minded Indo-Pacific democracies to fully realize the possibilities offered by forward-looking cross-border data policies and access to digital tools and emerging technologies across transnational IT networks,” said Joseph Whitlock, Executive Director of the Global Data Alliance.

Responsible data transfers and cross-border access to technology support many policy imperatives, including digital inclusion, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, anti-money laundering, and other activities relating to the protection of health, privacy, security, and regulatory compliance. They also support shared cross-border economic prosperity that benefits workers, citizens, and businesses of all sizes, including small- and medium-sized enterprises.

With respect to partner countries engaging in the IPEF negotiations relating to the connected economy, the Global Data Alliance urges the participants to advance strong cross-border data provisions in line with the Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and the US-Japan Digital Trade Agreement. For more information, please see the GDA Cross-Border Data Policy Principles and the GDA Comments on the IPEF.