New Avenues to Govern Cross-Border Information Flows

Cross-border data flows are the life-blood of an integrated world economy.  They support manufacturing and service supply chains and enable the flow of diverse and innovative goods and services to customers all over the world. But domestic policies must allow for these flows.  In the last several years, we have seen increasing attempts to close down the flow of information across borders – through requirements for domestic location of computer facilities and explicit bans on the transfer of data into or out of countries.  While domestic policy space must be large enough to permit legitimate regulations such as privacy and consumer protection, it should also ensure that these measures are no more restrictive than necessary to accomplish these purposes. The TPP was the first trade agreement to include binding provisions regarding these flows, but it has not yet been approved by any government.  But there are additional avenues to discuss cross-border data flows. They include:

• the Trade in Services Agreement being negotiated at the WTO
• the WTO E-Commerce working group
• bilateral discussions, discussions and resolutions at meetings of international economic leaders such as the G7 and the G20.  Herein we focus on what’s happening at the multilateral level at the WTO.

Join us for a discussion with a panel of experts and advocates on these avenues.

The Institute for International Economic Policy, along with the sponsorship of the Software and Information Industry Association, is hosting a panel discussion on November 14 as part of our continuing work on digital trade.  You are invited to bring your own lunch to enjoy during the panel.

Speakers will include:

• Sam Dupont,  Director for Digital Trade, USTR
• Michael Joseph Ferrantino, World Bank
• Carl Schonander, Senior Director International Policy, SIIA
• Deborah James, Director, International Programs, Center for Economic and Policy Research

Cosponsored by the Washington D.C. Chapter of the Internet Society