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New Zealand's Seat at the Global E-Commerce Table
The volume of international trade in goods and services that is occurring via e-commerce continues to grow exponentially. Digital tech is impacting on New Zealand and the rest of the world in many different ways.
Following on from our recent involvement with AI Day and in association with NZ Tech and FinTech NZ, we were invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to a roundtable discussion to provide input on their initiative to include New Zealand in the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) eCommerce negotiations. (Click here for more information on the WTO Declaration of Global eCommerce).
What is it and what does it mean for New Zealand?
The volume of international trade in goods and services that is occurring via e-commerce continues to grow exponentially. Digital tech is impacting on New Zealand and the rest of the world in many different ways. It is driving the creation of new products, services and business models. It is disrupting the way that whole industries do business. It is changing how people live their lives. And it is also changing how government makes decisions and interacts with society.
MFAT is seeking views on:
- what New Zealand should prioritise in future WTO e-commerce negotiations
- trade barriers you may face, or are concerned about, in trading online
- specific industries, businesses or products that you think could benefit from an outcome on e-commerce at the WTO
- other outcomes that will make it easier for New Zealanders to do business online
- any concerns you or your business have with a possible WTO outcome on e-commerce or that should be reflected in New Zealand's approach to negotiations.
As legal advisors in tech, media and IP, we represent a wide range of clients who are at the forefront of the changing digital world. For New Zealand to be part of such negotiations will be instrumental in unearthing challenges and opportunities for the global trading environment, traditional trade rules and architecture, as well as domestic policy approaches. It's therefore vital that international trade rules are developed to govern these areas as they evolve.
If you would like to contribute and help shape the e-commerce agenda for New Zealand, you can contact MFAT at e-commerce@mfat.govt.nz.
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