NZ joins Chile and Singapore in talks on a Digital Economy Partnership

New Zealand will join Chile and Singapore in talks to establish new trade rules and best practice for the digital era.

“The future of international trade is digital. Our three countries have a strong record of working together on the rules and best practice for international trade policy,” Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker said.

David Parker, together with Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Roberto Ampuero and Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, today announced the start of the negotiations on the side lines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade in Viña del Mar, Chile.

The three nations were architects of the P4 Agreement, which was the foundation for CPTPP, and are strong supporters of open markets and inclusive trade, David Parker said.

“The unprecedented growth of digital trade has led to a lag in the development of relevant international trade rules and norms. These talks are an opportunity for New Zealand to help shape the international rules in this area to ensure they make it easier for our businesses and consumers to take advantage of digital trade opportunities, while protecting public and private interests.

“We will ensure that issues of importance to New Zealanders such as personal privacy, consumer protection, data management, transparency and openness are appropriately protected.”

To a trade-dependent country distant from key markets digital trade can help businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, overcome the challenges of scale and distance.

“Digital technologies can also potentially support the increased participation in trade by women, Māori and rural communities, helping spread the benefits of trade across our communities and regions – a key aim of our Trade for All policy.

“The CPTPP already has modern e-commerce rules, which underlines the importance of that agreement, but as digital trade continues to grow and change, new barriers arise and new international approaches are required,” David Parker said.

The negotiation with Chile and Singapore on a new digital trade agreement will also complement and support the ongoing WTO negotiations on e-commerce, as well as digital economy work streams within APEC and the OECD.

“In light of the recent terrorist attack in Christchurch, and the Government’s strong concern about the role of internet technologies in enabling and promoting violent extremism, New Zealand will also be looking to explore with Singapore and Chile how the agreement might address digital economy issues relating to a safe, secure and free internet, including the issue of eliminating terrorist and violent extremist content online without compromising human rights and fundamental freedoms so important for the fourth estate.”

New Zealanders can share their views or register their interest in these negotiations by contacting e-commerce@mfat.govt.nz.

Joint Ministerial Statement on the launch of Digital Economy Partnership Agreement negotiations

1. We, the Ministers responsible for trade of Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, met in Vina del Mar, Chile, on the 17th of May and discussed ways to maximize the contributions that digitalization can provide to our economies and how to take advantage of the opportunities offered by trade in the digital era.

2. We recognize that the digital transformation of our economies can be an important driver of inclusive economic growth and play a significant role in achieving sustainable development, enhancing productivity of existing industries, and fostering new markets and businesses.

3. We also recognize that a free, open, global and secure Internet can facilitate connectivity, promote innovation and competition, and foster economic growth. We are committed to preserving a free, open, global and secure Internet as essential for the digital economy and beneficial for everyone.

4. We also affirm efforts by governments and the private sector to address the issue of terrorist and violent extremist online content.

5. Digitalization has also transformed the nature of trade. We are all small, outward facing, trade dependant countries, and we share a common objective of advancing trade in the digital era to support our businesses and consumers to take advantage of the numerous opportunities offered by the digital economy.

6. In the context of this shared vision, today we are launching negotiations to establish a first-of-its-kind and forward-looking Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (“DEPA”). The DEPA seeks to deepen and strengthen cooperation in digital areas, establish new international approaches for digital trade issues, and explore new frontiers in the digital economy, such as digital identities, e-payments, cross-border data flows and artificial intelligence.

7. The DEPA complements the ongoing WTO Joint Statement Initiative negotiations on e-commerce as well as digital economy work streams within APEC and other international fora.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chile, Hon Roberto Ampuero
Minister for Trade and Export Growth, New Zealand, Hon David Parker
Minister of Trade and Industry, Singapore, Hon Chan Chun Sing

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