BRUSSELS – February 17, 2020 – As negotiations on a new EU-UK partnership are about to begin, BSA | The Software Alliance encourages both partners to adopt modern digital trade rules that support secure, trusted, cross-border e-commerce.

Digital-enabled trade is a defining aspect of the future EU-UK relationship. Enterprises of all sizes and across all sectors depend upon the movement of information to export products and services, increase productivity, reach new customers globally, create jobs, and ultimately succeed in business.

“The EU and UK are two of the world’s most open and forward-thinking economies. Ensuring that trust in digital-enabled trade continues is critical to their integrated, data-driven markets,” said BSA’s Isabelle Roccia, Senior Manager, EMEA Policy. “The future EU-UK free trade agreement provides an opportunity for both sides to support the long-term growth of businesses that rely on the movement of data, software, and innovation to maintain their competitive edge. It is in both partners’ common interest to pursue an ambitious digital trade agenda.”

In a policy paper released today, “Digital Trade in the EU-UK Free Trade Agreement,” BSA outlines ten provisions that both partners could adopt to help EU and UK businesses to expand, create jobs, and innovate.

Specific digital trade provisions that BSA encourages the EU-UK partners to consider include: permitting cross-border data transfers while protecting personal information; prohibiting data localization requirements; protecting source codes and algorithms; and prohibiting customs duties on electronic transmissions.

To view BSA’s full set of recommendations, visit: https://www.bsa.org/policy-filings/emea-digital-trade-in-the-eu-uk-free-trade-agreement