Digital Trade and Data Protection: The Need for a Global Approach Balancing Policy Objectives
Author | Habib Kazzi |
Position | Professor of International Economic Law, Lebanese University, MENA Legal Consultant, Lawyer at the Paris Bar Association |
Pages | 42-56 |
Vol. 4 No. 2
June, 2020
European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences
IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria
ISSN 2519-1284
Acces online at www.iipccl.org
42
Digital Trade and Data Protection:
The Need for a Global Approach Balancing Policy Objectives
Habib Kazzi
ProfessorofInternationalEconomicLawLebaneseUniversity
MENA Legal Consultant
LawyerattheParisBarAssociation
Abstract
In an increasingly data-driven global economy, this contribution analyses the ambiguous
relationships between global trade crossborder data ows and online privacy Free data
ows and localization constitutes an essential driver for Ecommerce and a precondition
for its potential success But legal and cultural dierences between national regional and
international regimes on privacy and data protection, as well as variable public policy
objectivespursued bygovernments mayconstitute a newgeneration ofnontari barriers
to digital trade. This assessment makes more necessary a global approach balancing policy
objectiveswhileenabling interoperabilitybetweendieringnationalregimes andremoving
discriminatorytradebarrierstocrossborderdataowsForthispurposeanynationalprivacy
policyorinternationalagreementshouldbe basedonthefollowingthreepillarsadopting
data protection principles and standards in accordance with OECD PrivacyGuidelines
seingupeectivemechanismsforcooperationbetweennationaldataprotectioncommissions
orauthoritiesand providingfor atradetest thatensuresfreeows andlocalizationof
data between countries, while recognizing that sometimes measures are necessary to achieve
legitimate policy objectives and, in this case, such measures should be the least trade restrictive,
non-discriminatory, and transparent.
Keywords: Digital Trade Data Flows Privacy Public Policy Objectives OECD Privacy
GuidelinesWTOPrinciples
Introduction
Trade policy crossborder data ows and online privacy have interrelated and
ambiguous relationships The rise of Ecommerce raises challenges for States and
citizensnotablythroughsecuringtransactionsdigitaltaxationandtheprocessingof
personaldatainthecontextofcrossborderowsanddatalocalizationCrossborder
dataowsunderlietodaysgloballyconnectedworldandareessentialtoconducting
internationaltradeand commerceDataowsenable companiesandindividualsto
track global supply chains, transmit information for online communication, provide
crossborder services share research and support technological innovation CRS
Report
DataowsandtransferscantakevariousformsDataowssupportingtraditional
internationaltradeingoodsandservicesBBandBCDataowsthatareafull
component of international trade (creation of new players and innovative sectors);
and internal corporate data ows through supply chain or human resources
management This might be information and communication of ideas exchanged
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