The EU imports and exports more digital services than any other economy, according to a publication by the Institut Jacques Delors on Tuesday 29 August. It is well ahead of the United States and China. That’s why the author of the publication, Nicolas Köhler-Suzuki, suggests that European decision-makers should focus their efforts on digital service negotiations with their main partners.
The EU only has trade agreements with extensive sections on digital services with three of its nine main partners in this area: the UK, Japan and Canada. The author of the document explains that the EU’s traditional trade agreements lack the relevant provisions, such as constraints on data localisation or principles governing access to and use of the Internet for e-commerce. In his view, it is important to ensure that European exporters of digital services enjoy favourable conditions in all partner countries.
Furthermore, Köhler-Suzuki argues that the EU’s global position on digital services should be exploited to continue to influence global rules in this area, whether on taxation, competition or artificial intelligence. This would also make it possible to “uphold the European model for the digital economy, which prioritizes consumer rights”, he writes.
To see the publication, go to https://aeur.eu/f/8df (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)