SINGAPORE – March 24, 2020 – The Global Data Alliance commends yesterday’s announcement that Australia and Singapore have completed negotiations on the Digital Economy Agreement (DEA). The agreement – negotiated in just five months – includes rules to ensure that businesses, including those in the financial sector, can transfer data across borders and will not be required to build or use data storage centers in either jurisdiction. These types of provisions on cross-border data transfers, accompanied by prohibitions on data localization mandates, are a critical component of any modern trade agreement today.

“The Global Data Alliance welcomes the Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, which applies provisions on data transfers and prohibitions on data localization to all sectors of the economy,” said Joe Whitlock, Director, Policy at BSA | The Software Alliance. “Policies that foster the trusted movement of information across borders power innovation and growth across the globe. These types of policies are more important today than ever, as they allow people across all sectors to collaborate, innovate, and engage in all types of business transactions remotely.”

The Global Data Alliance applauds Singapore and Australia’s achievement and thanks them for their leadership on cross-border data policies and data localization matters throughout the APAC region. The Global Data Alliance looks forward to reviewing the final agreement when it becomes available.

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, ITB360, Mastercard, Panasonic, United Airlines, Verizon, Visa, and WD-40 Company. These companies are headquartered across the globe and are active in the advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, electronics, entertainment, financial and payment services, health, consumer goods, supply chain, and telecommunications sectors, among others. BSA | The Software Alliance administers the Global Data Alliance.