WHAT WE DO
Supporting Digital Trade Rules For Innovation
And Sustainable Economic Development
Supporting Digital Trade Rules For Innovation And Sustainable Economic Development
A Single Digital Trade Discussion Framework
Moving The Agenda Forward
At the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference, 70 countries agreed to work together on digital trade rules, and began negotiating in earnest in 2018 in the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce. As part of the response to this very welcome development, the global business community created the Digital Trade Network.
With the 13th Ministerial only a few months away, and the negotiators of the now 89 WTO Members working to be substantially finished with the agreement by the end of 2023, now is the crucial moment for industry to work with negotiators to ensure a sustainable outcome that supports development and commerce.
DTN is the specialised, expert global business voice to the World Trade Organization (WTO), International Trade Centre (ITC) and UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on digital economy policy.
WTO missions are often small and almost all lack digital trade expertise. They need access to experts from the business world to unpack the nuances of complex issues, and a trusted interlocutor on a day-to-day basis to help them understand industry’s digital trade priorities and to explain how issues like intermediaries, financial services, platforms, and data flows relate to their existing national priorities.
Digital trade impacts all companies in all sectors so dialogue and engagement can be fragmented. Having a focal point within the
Geneva community benefits all of industry.
Voices opposed to new digital trade rules are well-resourced, well organised and highly visible. A number of Geneva based NGOs have several full-time staff dedicated to an anti-business message putting industry at a significant disadvantage with policy makers – without a countering voice.
WHAT DTN DOES:
- Provide advice for industry on how to better impact Geneva based policy makers.
- Advise and support WTO Missions on industry’s digital trade interests using a locally-tailored ‘voice’.
- Report back on WTO Member discussions, improving industry intelligence.
- Help align capital-global advocacy activities and improve advocacy impact.
- Make it easier for business delegates who visit Geneva to understand who the key delegations are on the issues they care most about.
Aims & Objectives
The objective is to support the 89 countries working to finalise the agreement under negotiation. Objectives include:
1
SUPPORT WORK ON A THEMATIC BASIS
Structuring discussions around outcomes that matter to industry gives different sectors a way to affect outcomes and move towards clear commitments.
2
PROMOTE AN INCLUSIVE APPROACH
Recognising that WTO Members have diverse needs, but that many digital trade rules have common value for all Members.
3
EXPAND PARTICIPATION OF COUNTRIES IN KEY REGIONS SUCH AS AFRICA
To create the foundation of a truly global agreement.
4
BETTER ALIGNMENT OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY
Creating synergies between Geneva-related and capital-based advocacy efforts amplifies the effectiveness of both.
5
WORK WITH DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO SUPPORT THEIR CAPACITY TO PARTICIPATE
To enable countries to move at their own pace and bring more emerging markets into the discussion – and into negotiations.
Practical Activities Include
PUTTING FORWARD THE POSITIVE CASE FOR DIGITAL TRADE AT A SERIES OF COORDINATED GLOBAL EVENTS:
Commonwealth Business Forum, UNCTAD Ecommerce Week, WTO Public Forum, B20 Leaders Summit, symposia in Geneva.
ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE REPOSITORY OF MATERIALS FOR POLICY MAKERS:
…to promote linkages, innovation and best practice points for different sectors and interests to be heard and impact outcomes.
DEVELOPING DIALOGUE WITH BUSINESS GROUPS IN UNDER-REPRESENTED REGIONS:
…to increase engagement from key regions, such as Africa.
BUILDING UP A LARGER POOL OF ADVOCATES:
…to champion the FEDs Roadmap and promote a sustainable long-term approach.
COLLABORATING ON THOUGHT LEADERSHIP WITH NGOS:
…through blogs, social media and events.
What Success Looks Like
Practical Activities Include
PUTTING FORWARD THE POSITIVE CASE FOR DIGITAL TRADE AT A SERIES OF COORDINATED GLOBAL EVENTS:
Commonwealth Business Forum, UNCTAD Ecommerce Week, WTO Public Forum, B20 Leaders Summit, symposia in Geneva.
ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE REPOSITORY OF MATERIALS FOR POLICY MAKERS:
…to promote linkages, innovation and best practice points for different sectors and interests to be heard and impact outcomes.
DEVELOPING DIALOGUE WITH BUSINESS GROUPS IN UNDER-REPRESENTED REGIONS:
…to increase engagement from key regions, such as Africa.
BUILDING UP A LARGER POOL OF ADVOCATES:
…to champion the FEDs Roadmap and promote a sustainable long-term approach.
COLLABORATING ON THOUGHT LEADERSHIP WITH NGOS:
…through blogs, social media and events.
What Success Looks Like
More delegations making constructive proposals and adopting win-win commitments.
A single digital trade discussion framework as a common reference point, with clear entry points for different sectors and interests to be heard and impact outcomes.
Better targeted national advocacy feeding in to global policy development.
More consistent, evidence based policy making and advocacy.
Larger pool of practical, accessible materials for policy makers; greater visibility to knowledge products as a result.
More effective industry visits to Geneva delivering greater impact.
More targeted industry joint letters on digital trade issues with greater impact.
