Digital Trade and E-Commerce: Challenges and Opportunities of the Asia-Pacific Regionalism

Abstract

The legal framework of the WTO does not meet the regulatory need of the digital trade business anymore. The “compensation” by regional and bilateral preferential trade agreements in the Asian-Pacific area having gained importance and covering a larger scope during the last decade is a valuable contribution to the legal stability in the region but does not fully replace the merits of a global framework.

Keywords: GATT and GATS Suitability, Information Technology Agreement, Preferential Trade Agreement, Trade in Services Agreement, Work Programme on E-Commerce