BRUSSELS – February 12, 2021 – The Global Data Alliance highlighted the benefits of cross-border data flows to the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 recovery and future economic growth, calling for openness to remain a cornerstone of the country’s trade and wider policy agenda, in evidence submitted to the House of Commons’ International Trade Select Committee.

“Data transfers are crucial to international trade and the ability of businesses to successfully operate across every sector of the economy. Research shows that 75 percent of the value of data transfers goes to traditional industries, such as agriculture, logistics, or manufacturing,” said Isabelle Roccia, Senior Manager, Policy – EMEA at BSA | The Software Alliance. “The Global Data Alliance welcomes the United Kingdom’s commitment to seamless data flows and to robust standards of data responsibility. As the UK engages with its international partners to agree new trade pacts, we encourage London to make cross-border data flows one of the building blocks of its trade strategy and to continue to advocate for open digital trade rules on the world stage.”

Read the Global Data Alliance’s full submission here.

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, RELX, 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, financial services, health, media and entertainment, natural resources, supply chain, and telecommunications sectors, among others. BSA | The Software Alliance administers the Global Data Alliance.