Preamble

SECTION A: SCOPE AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION B: ENABLING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

SECTION C: OPENNESS AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

SECTION D: TRUST AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

SECTION E: TRANSPARENCY, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

SECTION F: TELECOMMUNICATIONS

SECTION G: INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND FINAL PROVISIONS

WTO: Agreement on Electronic Commerce

As leaked on bilaterals.org, version of 27 March 2024

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Exact match

Preamble

204 words

SECTION A: SCOPE AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

792 words

Article 1: Scope

86 words

Article 2: Definitions

297 words

For the purposes of this Agreement:

(a) "country" includes any separate customs territory that is a Party to this Agreement. In the case of a separate customs territory that is a Party to this Agreement, where an expression in this Agreement is qualified by the term 'national', such expression shall be read as pertaining to that customs territory, unless otherwise specified;

(b) "Dispute Settlement Understanding" means the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, set out in Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement;

(c) "enterprise" means any entity constituted or organized under applicable law, whether or not for profit, and whether privately or governmentally owned or controlled, including any branch, corporation, trust, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture, or association;

(d) "GATS" means the General Agreement on Trade in Services, set out in Annex 1B to the WTO Agreement;

(e) "GATT 1994" means the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, set out in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement;

(f) "government procurement" means the process by which a government obtains the use of or acquires goods or services, or any combination thereof, for governmental purposes and not with a view to commercial sale or resale or use in the production or supply of goods or services for commercial sale or resale;

(g) "measure" means any measure by a Party, whether in the form of a law, regulation, rule, procedure, decision, administrative action, or any other form;

(h) "Party" means any WTO Member for which this Agreement is in force;

(i) "person" means a natural person or an enterprise;

(j) "service supplied in the exercise of governmental authority" has the meaning in the GATS, including, where applicable, the GATS Annex on Financial Services; and

(k) "WTO Agreement" means the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994.

Article 3: Relation to Other Agreements

85 words

Article 4: General Exceptions

30 words

Article 5: Security Exception

27 words

Article 6: Prudential Measures

23 words

Article 7: Personal Data Protection Exception

94 words

Article 8: Indigenous Peoples

144 words

SECTION B: ENABLING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

2279 words

Article 9: Electronic Transactions Frameworks

108 words

Article 10: Electronic Authentication and Electronic Signatures

351 words

10.1 For the purposes of this Article:

(a) "electronic authentication" means the process or act of verifying the identity of a party to an electronic communication or transaction or ensuring the integrity of an electronic communication; and

(b) "electronic signature" means data in electronic form that is in, affixed to, or logically associated with an electronic data message that may be used to identify the signatory in relation to the data message and indicate the signatory's approval of the information contained in the data message.2

10.2 Except in circumstances otherwise provided for under its laws or regulations, a Party shall not deny the legal effect, legal validity, or admissibility as evidence in legal proceedings of an electronic signature solely on the basis that the signature is in electronic form.

10.3 No Party shall adopt or maintain measures that would:

(a) prohibit parties to an electronic transaction from mutually determining the appropriate electronic authentication methods, or electronic signature for that transaction; or

(b) prevent parties to an electronic transaction from having the opportunity to establish before judicial or administrative authorities that their transaction complies with any legal requirements with respect to electronic authentication or electronic signatures.

10.4 Notwithstanding paragraph 10.3, a Party may require that, for a particular category of transactions, the method of authentication or the electronic signature meets certain performance standards or is certified by an accredited authority, in accordance with its laws or regulations.

10.5 To the extent provided for under its laws or regulations, a Party shall apply paragraphs 10.2 to 10.4 to electronic seals, electronic time stamps and electronic registered delivery services.

10.6 Parties shall encourage the use of interoperable electronic authentication.

10.7 Parties may work together, on a voluntary basis, to encourage the mutual recognition of electronic signatures.

Article 11: Electronic Contracts

61 words

Article 12: Electronic Invoicing

180 words

Article 13: Paperless Trading

560 words

For the purposes of this Article:

(a) "customs authority" means any authority that is responsible under the law of each Party for the administration of its customs laws and regulations; and

(b) "supporting documentation" means any documentation that is required to support the information presented to a Party for import, export, or transit of goods through its territory. Supporting documentation may include documents such as invoices, bills of lading, packing lists and money transfers.

(c) "electronic format" includes, inter alia, formats suitable for automated interpretation and electronic processing without human intervention, as well as digitized images and forms.

13.2 With a view to creating a paperless border environment for trade of goods, each Party recognises the importance of eliminating paper forms and documents required for import, export, or transit of goods. To this end, Parties are encouraged to eliminate paper forms and documents, as appropriate, and transition toward using forms and documents in data- based formats.

13.3 Each Party shall make any form issued or controlled by its customs authority for import, export, or transit of goods through its territory available to the public in an electronic format.

13.4 Each Party shall endeavour to make any form issued or controlled by any government agency other than its customs authority for import, export, or transit of goods through its territory available to the public in electronic format.

13.5 No Party shall be required to apply paragraphs 13.3 and 13.4 if there is an international legal requirement to the contrary.

13.6 Each Party shall endeavour to make instructions for the submission in electronic format of the forms referred to in paragraphs 13.3 and 13.4 available through the internet.

13.7 Each Party shall accept any form issued or controlled by customs authorities and, as appropriate, supporting documentation, required by customs authorities for import, export, or transit of goods through its territory submitted in electronic format as the legal equivalent of the paper version of those documents.

13.8 Each Party shall endeavour to accept any form issued or controlled by any government agency other than customs authorities and, as appropriate, supporting documentation, required by any government agency other than customs authorities for import, export, or transit of goods through its territory submitted in electronic format as the legal equivalent of the paper version of those forms.

13.9 No Party shall be required to apply paragraphs 13.7 and 13.8 if:

(a) there is a domestic or an international legal requirement to the contrary; or

(b) doing so would reduce the effectiveness of the customs or other trade procedures required for import, export, or transit of goods through its territory.

13.10 A Party shall endeavour to notify the Committee of the list of paper forms required under paragraph 13.9 (a) within two years of the entry into force of this Agreement. Each Party shall endeavour to update the list, as appropriate.

13.11 Parties shall endeavour to cooperate, where appropriate, in international fora to promote the use of electronic forms and documents required for import, export, or transit.

13.12 Recognizing that use of an international standard for utilization of electronic forms and documents required for import, export, or transit can facilitate trade, Parties shall endeavour to take into account, as appropriate, standards of, or methods agreed by relevant international organizations.

Article 14: Single Windows Data Exchange and System Interoperability

350 words

14.1 In implementing its single window pursuant to Article 10.4.1 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, set out in Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement, each Party shall endeavour to enable through a single entry point the electronic submission of the documentation and/or data the Party requires for import, export, or transit of goods through its territory for all its participating authorities or agencies.

14.2 Whenever possible, the single window should allow the electronic submission of documentation and/or data in advance in order to begin processing information prior to the arrival of goods with a view to expediting the release of goods upon arrival.

14.3 In building and maintaining its single window, each Party:

(a) shall endeavour to incorporate, as appropriate, the World Customs Organization Data Model or other international standards for data elements;

(b) shall ensure the protection and confidentiality of the data exchanged with other single window, whenever this exchange is permitted; and

(c) is encouraged to implement a reference number or other identity verification tool to uniquely identify data relating to an individual transaction.

14.4 Whenever a single window is not available or not integrated with customs authorities, paragraph 14.3 applies, as appropriate, to customs management systems used for processing data related to export, import and transit of goods through its territory.

14.5 In implementing paragraph 14.3, Parties shall endeavour to:

(a) share with each other their respective experiences in developing and maintaining their single window; and

(b) work towards a harmonization, to the extent practicable, of data elements and customs processes.

14.6. Taking into consideration the interests of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, Parties shall endeavour to allow traders and other stakeholders to use service providers to exchange data with a single window on their behalf or, where a single window is not available, with customs management systems on their behalf.4

Article 15: Electronic Payments

664 words

15.1 For the purposes of this Article:

(a) electronic payments means the payer's transfer of a monetary claim on a person that is acceptable to the payee and made through electronic means but not including payment services of central banks that involve settlement between financial service suppliers5; and

(b) self-regulatory organization means any non-governmental body that is recognized by each Party as a self-regulatory body and exercises regulatory or supervisory authority over electronic payments service suppliers or financial service suppliers by statute or delegation from central or regional government.

15.2 Noting the rapid growth of electronic payments, in particular those supplied by new electronic payment services suppliers, Parties recognize:

(a) the benefit of supporting the development of safe, efficient, trustworthy, secure, affordable, and accessible cross-border electronic payments by fostering the adoption and use of internationally accepted standards, promoting interoperability of electronic payments systems, and encouraging useful innovation and competition in electronic payments services;

(b) the importance of upholding safety, efficiency, trust, security, and accessibility in electronic payments systems through regulations that, where appropriate, account for the risks of such systems; and

(c) the importance of enabling the introduction of safe, efficient, trustworthy, secure, affordable, and accessible electronic payment products and services in a timely manner.

15.3 In accordance with their respective laws and regulations, Parties shall endeavour to:

(a) further to Article 24 (Transparency), make their respective regulations on electronic payments, including those pertaining to regulatory approval, licensing requirements, procedures and technical standards, publicly available in a timely manner;

(b) finalize decisions on regulatory or licensing approvals in a timely manner;

(c) take into account, for relevant electronic payments systems, internationally accepted payment standards to enable greater interoperability between electronic payments systems; and

(d) encourage financial service suppliers and electronic payments service suppliers to facilitate greater interoperability, competition, security, and innovation in electronic payments, which may include partnerships with third-party providers, subject to appropriate risk management.

15.4

(a) The Parties recognise the commitment made by Members in paragraph C1 of the Understanding on Commitments in Financial Services, including with respect to granting, on terms that accord national treatment, financial service suppliers of any other Member established in its territory access to payment and clearing systems operated by a public entity;6

(b) for the purposes of this Agreement:

(i) Parties who have undertaken the commitment referred to in paragraph 15.4 (a), affirm that such commitment also applies to electronic payments service suppliers of any other Member established in its territory; and

(ii) Parties who have not undertaken the commitment referred to in paragraph 15.4 (a), shall, to the extent practicable, endeavour to adopt or maintain measures that implement the commitment referred to in paragraph 15.4(a) as it applies to electronic payments service suppliers of any other Member established in its territory.

(c) for greater certainty, nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require a Party to allow foreign service suppliers to engage in the services on which it has not undertaken specific commitments under the GATS.

15.5 Further to Article 24 (Transparency), each Party shall to the extent applicable take such reasonable measures as may be available to it to ensure that the rules of general application adopted or maintained by self-regulatory organizations of the Party are promptly published or otherwise made available.

15.6 For greater certainty, nothing in this Article restricts the right of a Party to adopt or maintain measures regulating the need to obtain licenses or permits or the approval of access applications.

SECTION C: OPENNESS AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

760 words

Article 16: Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions

129 words

Article 17: Open Government Data

434 words

17.1 For the purposes of this Article, "metadata" means structural or descriptive information about data, such as content, format, source, rights, accuracy, provenance, frequency, periodicity, granularity, publisher or responsible party, contact information, method of collection and context.

17.2 This Article applies to measures by a Party with respect to data held by the central government, disclosure of which is not restricted under domestic law, and which a Party makes digitally available for public access and use (hereafter referred to as "government data").7

17.3 Parties recognize the benefit of making data held by a regional or local government digitally available for public access and use in a manner consistent with paragraphs 17.4 through 17.7.

17.4 Parties recognise that facilitating public access to and use of government data fosters economic and social development, competitiveness, and innovation. To this end, Parties are encouraged to expand the coverage of such data, such as through engagement and consultation with interested stakeholders.

17.5 To the extent that a Party chooses to make government data digitally available for public access and use, a Party shall endeavour, to the extent practicable, to ensure that such data is:

(a) made available in a machine-readable and open format;

(b) searchable and retrievable;

(d) accompanied by metadata that is, to the extent possible, based on commonly used formats that allow the user to understand and utilise the data.

17.6 A Party shall further endeavour to make this data generally available at no or reasonable cost to the user.

17.7 To the extent that a Party chooses to make government data digitally available for public access and use, it shall endeavour to avoid imposing conditions8 that unduly prevent or restrict the user of such data from:

(a) reproducing, redistributing, or republishing the data;

(b) regrouping the data; or

(c) using the data for commercial and non-commercial purposes, including in the process of production of a new product or service.

17.8 Parties shall endeavour to cooperate in matters that facilitate and expand public access to and use of government data, including exchanging information and experiences on practices and policies, with a view to encouraging the development of electronic commerce and creating business opportunities, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Article 18: Access To and Use of the Internet for Electronic Commerce

191 words

SECTION D: TRUST AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

1846 words

Article 19: Online Consumer Protection

366 words

19.1 Misleading, fraudulent and deceptive commercial activities include:

(a) making material misrepresentations10, including implied factual misrepresentations, or false claims as to matters such as qualities, price, suitability for purpose, quantity or origin of goods or services;

(b) advertising goods or services for supply without intention or reasonable capability to supply;

(c) failing to deliver goods or provide services to a consumer after the consumer is charged unless justified on reasonable grounds; or

(d) charging a consumer for services or goods not requested.

19.2 The Parties recognise the importance of transparent and effective measures that enhance consumer confidence and trust in electronic commerce. Each Party shall adopt or maintain measures to proscribe misleading, fraudulent and deceptive commercial activities that cause harm, or potential harm, to consumers engaged11 in electronic commerce.

19.3 To protect consumers engaged in electronic commerce, each Party shall endeavour to adopt or maintain measures that aim to ensure:

(a) that suppliers of goods and services deal fairly and honestly with consumers;

(b) that suppliers provide complete, accurate, and transparent information on goods and services including any terms and conditions of purchase; and

19.4 The Parties recognise the importance of affording to consumers who are engaged in electronic commerce consumer protection at a level not less than that afforded to consumers who are engaged in other forms of commerce.

19.5 The Parties recognise the importance of cooperation between their respective consumer protection agencies or other relevant bodies including the exchange of information and experience, as well as cooperation in appropriate cases of mutual concern regarding the violation of consumer rights in relation to electronic commerce in order to enhance online consumer protection, where mutually agreed.

19.6 Parties shall promote access to, and awareness of, consumer redress or recourse mechanisms, including for consumers transacting cross-border.

Article 20: Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Messages

283 words

20.1 For the purposes of this Article:

(a) "commercial electronic message" means an electronic message which is sent for commercial purposes to an electronic address of a person12 through telecommunication services, comprising at least electronic mail and to the extent provided for under domestic laws and regulations, other types of messages; and

(b) "unsolicited commercial electronic message" means a commercial electronic message that is sent without the consent of the recipient or despite the explicit rejection of the recipient.

20.2 Parties recognize the importance of promoting confidence and trust in electronic commerce, including through transparent and effective measures that limit unsolicited commercial electronic messages. Each Party shall adopt or maintain measures that:

(a) require suppliers of commercial electronic messages to facilitate the ability of recipients to prevent ongoing reception of those messages; or

(b) require the consent, as specified in the laws or regulations of each Party, of recipients to receive commercial electronic messages; or

20.3 Each Party shall endeavour to ensure that commercial electronic messages are clearly identifiable as such, clearly disclose on whose behalf they are sent, and contain the necessary information to enable recipients to request cessation free of charge and at any time.

20.4 Each Party shall provide access to either redress or recourse against suppliers of unsolicited commercial electronic messages that do not comply with the measures adopted or maintained pursuant to paragraph 20.2.

20.5 Parties shall endeavour to cooperate in appropriate cases of mutual concern regarding the regulation of unsolicited commercial electronic messages.

Article 21: Personal Data Protection

299 words

Article 22: ICT Products That Use Cryptography

704 words

22.1 For the purposes of this Article:

(a) "cryptographic algorithm" means a defined procedure or formula of transforming data using cryptography;

(b) "cryptography" means the principles, means or methods for the transformation of data in order to conceal or disguise its content, prevent its undetected modification, or prevent its unauthorised use;

(c) "Information and Communication Technology product (ICT product)" means any hardware or software whose intended function is information processing or communication by electronic means, including storage, transmission and display, or electronic processing applied to determine or record physical phenomena, or to control physical processes.14

(d) "key" means a parameter used in conjunction with a cryptographic algorithm that determines its operation in such a way that a person with knowledge of the key can reproduce or reverse the operation, while a person without knowledge of the key cannot.

22.2. With respect to an ICT product for commercial applications that uses cryptography, no Party shall require a juridical person of another Party, as a condition of the manufacture, sale, distribution, import or use of the ICT product, to15:

(a) transfer or provide access to any proprietary information relating to cryptography, including by disclosing a particular technology, production process, or other information, for example, a private key or other secret parameter, cryptographic algorithm specification or other design detail, to that Party or a person in the territory of that Party, including when partnering or entering into a joint venture or other co-operation arrangements with a local juridical person;

(b) use or integrate a particular cryptographic algorithm.16

22.3 Paragraph 22.2 shall not apply to:

(a) a decision or requirement by a competent authority17 to access any information to which subparagraph 22.2 (a) applies, for an investigation, inspection, examination, or judicial proceeding, to secure compliance with the Party's laws or regulations that are not inconsistent with WTO agreements;

(b) a decision or requirement by a competition authority of a Party pursuant to a Party's law, to prevent or remedy a restriction or a distortion of competition;

(c) a measure adopted or maintained by a Party relating to the regulation, supervision or investigation of financial instruments, service suppliers or markets;

(d) a decision or requirement that a Party adopts or maintains relating to access to networks, including user devices, that are owned or controlled by that Party and are for use in the exercise of government functions, including central banks;

(e) the manufacture, sale, distribution, import, or use of an ICT product by or for a Party.

22.4 Where proprietary information relating to cryptography of an ICT product for commercial applications that uses cryptography has been revealed to a competent authority of a Party for the purposes referred to in paragraph 22.3, that Party shall adopt or maintain measures to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of that proprietary information.

22.5 Nothing in this Article shall be construed to preclude a Party's law enforcement or national security authorities from requiring access to encrypted and unencrypted communications, pursuant to that Party's legal procedures.18

22.6 Nothing in this Article shall affect the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, including undisclosed information.

Article 23: Cybersecurity

188 words

SECTION E: TRANSPARENCY, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

1551 words

Article 24: Transparency

57 words

Article 25: Cooperation

205 words

Article 26: Development

1283 words

General Principles

26.1 Articles 9 to 27 shall be implemented by developing and least-developed country Parties in accordance with this Article.

26.2 The Parties recognise:

(a) the importance of strengthening international efforts to bridge the digital divide and enable an inclusive digital economy; and

(b) the contribution of electronic commerce rules to overcoming digital trade-related challenges and promoting the inclusive growth of electronic commerce.

26.3 The Parties acknowledge their role in supporting developing and least-developed country Parties to effectively participate and tap into growth opportunities in electronic commerce and the digital economy, including supporting better access to digital ecosystems and infrastructure and supporting their micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and its people.

26.4 Parties recognize the importance of technical assistance and capacity building to developing and least-developed country Parties in implementing this Agreement.

26.5 Assistance and support for capacity building19 should be provided to help developing and least-developed country Parties implement the provisions of this Agreement, in accordance with their nature and scope.

Implementation Periods for Developing and Least-Developed Country Parties

26.6 The Parties recognize that developing and least-developed country Parties may, at entry into force of this Agreement for that Party, require an extended period to implement certain obligations under this Agreement which require public policy, institutional or legislative changes for implementation, or require the acquisition of implementation capacity through assistance and capacity building before implementation.

26.7 Each developing and least-developed country Party may self-designate any provision of this Agreement for which they require an implementation period of no more than five years by submitting a list of such provisions to the Committee on Trade Related Aspects of Electronic Commerce (Committee) established pursuant to Article 29 at entry into force of this Agreement for that Party.

26.8 Each developing and least-developed country Party may extend for up to two additional years the implementation period for any provisions designated pursuant to paragraph 26.6. Such Parties shall notify the Committee of any extension no later than 120 days before the expiry of the initial implementation period, detailing the reasons for the extension and the relevant actions required to complete the implementation thereof.

Needs Assessment

26.9 Developed country Parties, and developing country Parties declaring themselves in a position to do so, are encouraged to provide developing and least-developed country Parties with support to conduct or update their needs assessment to identify gaps in capacity to implement this Agreement, either bilaterally or through relevant international organizations.

26.10 The results of any needs assessment conducted or updated in accordance with paragraph 26.9 should inform the self-designation of provisions by a developing or least- developed country Party under paragraphs 26.7 and 26.8.

Capacity Building Support

26.11 The Parties recognise the importance of technical assistance and capacity building for developing and least-developed country Parties in relation to matters covered by this Agreement. To this end, developing country and least-developed country Parties may identify any provision of this Agreement in respect of which they would most benefit from technical assistance and capacity building. Developed country Parties and developing country Parties declaring themselves in a position to do so, agree to facilitate the provision of assistance and support for capacity building in respect of such provisions, either bilaterally or through appropriate international organizations, on mutually agreed terms and taking into account the specific needs and priorities of developing and least-developed country Parties.

26.12 Parties shall endeavour to apply the following principles for providing assistance and support for capacity building with regard to the implementation of this Agreement:

(a) take into account the overall developmental framework of recipient countries and regions and, where relevant and appropriate, ongoing reform and technical assistance programmes;

(b) include, where relevant and appropriate, activities to address regional and subregional challenges and promote regional and sub-regional integration;

(c) consider the activities of the private sector, to the extent possible, when developing capacity building programs or activities; and

(d) promote coordination between and among Parties and other relevant institutions, including regional economic communities, to ensure maximum effectiveness and results from this assistance. To this end:

i. coordination should aim to avoid overlap and duplication in assistance programmes and inconsistencies in reform activities through close coordination of technical assistance and capacity building interventions;

ii. relevant global and regional trade-related programmes should be considered as a part of this coordination process, including those specifically focused on least-developed country Parties; and

iii. Parties should promote internal coordination between their trade and development officials, both in capitals and in Geneva, in the implementation of this Agreement and technical assistance.

Non-Application of Dispute Settlement

26.13 For a period of seven years after entry into force of this Agreement for that Party, Article 28 (Dispute Settlement) shall not apply to the settlement of disputes against least-developed country Parties concerning any provision of this Agreement.

26.14 Notwithstanding the grace period referred to in paragraph 26.13, before a Party requests consultations under Article 28 (Dispute Settlement) concerning a measure of a least- developed country Party, and at all stages of any dispute settlement procedures thereafter, it shall give particular consideration to the special situation of least-developed country Parties. In this regard, the Parties shall exercise due restraint in raising matters under Article 28 (Dispute Settlement) involving least-developed country Parties.

Transparency

26.15 The Parties recognise the importance of transparency in the provision of assistance and support for capacity building to facilitate the effective implementation of the Agreement. To this end, each developed country Party shall submit to the Committee, on entry into force of this Agreement and regularly thereafter, relevant information20 on its existing and new capacity building programmes.

26.16 Developing country Parties declaring themselves in a position to provide assistance and support for capacity building are encouraged to submit the information detailed at paragraph 26.15 to the Committee, on entry into force of this Agreement and regularly thereafter.

Committee

26.17 The Committee shall make available online the information provided pursuant to paragraphs 26.15 and 26.16, together with information about the relevant activities of international organizations.

26.18 Developing country and least-developed country Parties intending to avail themselves of relevant assistance and support for capacity building shall submit to the Committee information on contact point(s) of the office(s) responsible for coordinating and prioritizing such assistance and support.

26.19 For the purposes of this Section, the Committee shall hold at least one dedicated session per year, while assistance and capacity building support are being provided to a Party, or any obligations are subject to implementation periods:

(a) monitor assistance or capacity building support and the implementation of obligations subject to implementation periods designated pursuant to paragraphs 26.7 and 26.8;

(b) discuss issues regarding the implementation of provisions or sub-provisions of this Agreement;

(c) review progress regarding assistance and support for capacity building and technical assistance to support the implementation of the Agreement, including where any developing or least-developed country Parties are not receiving adequate assistance and support for capacity building; and

(d) facilitate the sharing of Party experiences, challenges, successes and information.

SECTION F: TELECOMMUNICATIONS

499 words

Article 27: Telecommunications

496 words

27.1 Each Party shall undertake or continue to undertake the obligations contained in the WTO Reference Paper: Negotiating group on basic telecommunications. To that end, those obligations are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

27.2 In accordance with the scope of the WTO Reference Paper, each Party shall apply the obligations referred to in paragraph 27.1 to basic telecommunications services.

Telecommunications regulatory authority

27.3 Each Party shall ensure its telecommunications regulatory authority does not hold a financial interest or maintain an operating or management role in a supplier of public telecommunications networks and services. This paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit a government entity of a Party other than the telecommunications regulatory authority from owning equity in such supplier.

27.4 Each Party shall ensure that its telecommunications regulatory authority has the power, including the ability to impose sanctions, to carry out the functions assigned to it by law, and exercise such power transparently and in a timely manner.

27.5 Each Party shall make public the functions undertaken by the telecommunications regulatory authority in an easily accessible and clear form.

Assignment of frequency bands

27.6 Each Party shall ensure that the assignment of frequency bands for public telecommunication services shall be carried out through an open process that takes into account the public interest, including the promotion of competition.

27.7 Each Party shall endeavour to carry out such assignment using market-based approaches, such as bidding procedures, where appropriate.

Essential facilities

27.8 For the purposes of this Article, "Network element" means a facility or equipment used in supplying a public telecommunications service, including features, functions and capabilities provided by means of that facility or equipment.

27.9 Each Party shall empower its telecommunications regulatory authority to:

(a) determine which essential facilities are made available by a major supplier to other suppliers of public telecommunications services on reasonable, non-discriminatory and transparent terms and conditions for the purpose of providing public telecommunications services; and

(b) require a major supplier to offer access on an unbundled basis to its network elements that are essential facilities on reasonable, non-discriminatory and transparent terms and conditions for the purpose of providing public telecommunications services.

27.10 A supplier of public telecommunications services shall have access to recourse, within a reasonable period of time, to the telecommunications regulatory authority or other competent authority to resolve disputes with other suppliers of public telecommunications services regarding their rights and obligations arising from paragraph 27.9.

27.11 If a telecommunications regulatory authority or other competent authority declines to initiate any action regarding a request to resolve a dispute, it shall, upon request of a supplier involved in the dispute, provide a written explanation for its decision within a reasonable period of time.

27.12 A supplier of public telecommunications services involved in the dispute shall not be prevented from bringing an action before judicial authorities of a Party.

SECTION G: INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND FINAL PROVISIONS

1070 words

Article 28: Dispute Settlement

67 words

Article 29: Committee on Trade-Related Aspects of Electronic Commerce

264 words

Article 30: Acceptance and Entry into Force

125 words

Article 31: Accession

69 words

Article 32: Implementation

38 words

Article 33: Reservations

25 words

Article 34: Amendments

115 words

Article 35: Withdrawal

114 words

Article 36: Non-application of this Agreement between Particular Parties

40 words

Article 37: Review

103 words

Article 38: Secretariat

12 words

Article 39: Deposit

68 words

Article 40: Registration

23 words

References

1 For greater certainty, "conditions of general application" refer to conditions formulated in objective terms that apply horizontally to an unidentified number of economic operators and thus cover a range of situations and cases.
2 For greater certainty, nothing in this Article prevents a Party from according greater legal effect to an electronic signature that satisfies certain requirements, such as indicating that an electronic data message has not been altered or verifying the identity of the signatory.
3 For greater certainty, an electronic contract includes a contract made by interaction with an automated message system.
4 For greater certainty, this provision does not preclude a Party from requiring service providers to meet certain procedural requirements in order to exchange data with the single window.
5 For greater certainty, nothing in this Article requires a Party to grant electronic payments services suppliers of any other Party not established in its territory access to payment services of central banks that involve settlement between financial services suppliers.
6 For greater certainty, "access to payment and clearing systems" can be granted either through direct access, or indirect access via a financial service supplier that qualifies for and has direct access under the law of the relevant Party.
7 For greater certainty, this Article is without prejudice to a Party's laws pertaining to intellectual property and personal data protection.
8 For greater certainty, nothing in this paragraph prevents a Party from requiring a user of such data to link to original sources.
9 For the purposes of paragraph 18.2(a), Parties recognise that an Internet access service supplier that offers certain content only to its end-users would not be acting contrary to this principle.
10 For the purposes of this Article, material misrepresentations refer to misrepresentations that are likely to affect a consumer's conduct or decision to use or purchase a good or service.
11 For the purposes of this Article, the term ‘engaged' includes the pre-transaction phase of electronic commerce.
12 For greater certainty, the "electronic address of a person" does not cover IP addresses.
13 For greater certainty, a Party may comply with the obligation in paragraph 21.3 by adopting or maintaining measures or a combination of measures such as a comprehensive privacy, personal data protection laws, sector-specific laws covering privacy or other laws that address privacy violations.
14 For greater certainty, for the purposes of this Article, an ICT product does not include any instrument for supplying a financial service or any financial asset, including money.
16 For greater certainty, subparagraph (b) does not prevent a Party from requiring a manufacturer or supplier of an ICT product that uses cryptography to demonstrate that a cryptographic algorithm meets security requirements that are internationally recognized or developed in an open and transparent manner.
15 For greater certainty, this Article does not apply to the voluntary transfer of, or granting of access to, proprietary information relating to cryptography on a commercial basis, by a natural or juridical person, for instance in the context of a public procurement transaction or a freely negotiated contract.
17 For the purposes of this Article, competent authority means a relevant government body or authority of a Party, or a non-governmental body in the exercise of powers delegated by a government body or authority of the Party.
18 For greater certainty, such access does not include any proprietary information relating to cryptography itself.
19 For the purposes of this Agreement, "assistance and support for capacity building" may take the form of technical, financial or any other mutually agreed form of assistance provided.
20 For greater certainty, "relevant information" includes: (a) a description of the assistance or support provided; (b) information on how to apply for or access such assistance or support, including a Party's contact point(s); and (c) a list of the beneficiaries of the assistance and support.
21 For the purposes of calculation of acceptances under this Article, an instrument of acceptance by the European Union for itself and in respect of its Member States shall be counted as a number of instruments of acceptance equal to the number of Member States of the European Union which are Members to the WTO.

What is the policy area?

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International trade Data governance Foreign direct investment Public procurement Taxation Regulatory Compliance and Transparency Authorisation, registration and licensing Intellectual property Consumer protection Competition

What JSI article is addressed?

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cross-border data flows customs duties cybersecurity personal data protection electronic authentication electronic signatures electronic transactions frameworks online consumer protection open internet access unsolicited commercial electronic messages cryptographic products paperless trading transparency electronic payments cooperation electronic contracts electronic invoicing single windows development open government data

Which policy instrument is applied?

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Consumer protection regulation Cybersecurity regulation Data localisation regulation Data protection regulation Import tariff Paperless trade regulation Service access regulation Public procurement Internal taxation of imports Intellectual property protection Competition policy Prudential measures Authorisation of Goods or Services Notification requirement Public disclosure requirement Regulatory cooperation requirement Prohibition of goods and services Complaint or feedback mechanism requirement Non-discrimination requirement Interoperability requirement Operational license requirement Quality of service requirement

What's the legal nature of the provision?

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