The Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) between New Zealand, Singapore, Chile and South Korea will help establish new rules and practices for digital trade, and promote ongoing discussion on issues like digital inclusion, inclusive trade and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the digital economy.
Name in original language
Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, and South Korea)
Initiative overview
The Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) between New Zealand, Singapore and Chile is an agreement that establishes new approaches and collaborations in digital trade issues, promotes interoperability between different regimes and addresses the new issues brought about by digitalisation. The Republic of Korea joined the DEPA on 3 May 2024. The agreement covers broad areas, from e-invoicing to artificial intelligence, and will continue to evolve as new digital opportunities and issues emerge.The initiative has the following objectives:DEPAs commitments include: Cooperation - Implement the agreement and explore how to further enhance our digital economy partnership. Trade facilitation - Facilitate paperless trading, e-invoicing, e-payments and streamlined customs procedures for parcels. SMEs and the digital economy - Share information that SMEs need to operate in the digital economy and develop a Digital SME Dialogue. Consumer trust - Promote online consumer protection to ensure consumers have the information to trade with confidence and access to appropriate redress if things go wrong. Digital products “ Promote a level playing field for digital products through provisions regarding the non-discrimination of digital products and ICT products that use cryptography. Data issues - Protect personal information and ensure generally free cross-border data flows and freedom regarding the location of computer facilities. Innovation - Enhance and encourage innovation in the digital economy, such as through open government data.Digital identities - Start discussing digital identities, and share best practice on digital identity policies and regulations. Emerging technologies - Explore new issues, including competition in the digital economy. Promote financial technology and develop frameworks to support the safe and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Digital inclusion - Establish a framework for future cooperation between partners on matters of digital inclusion and inclusive trade, including new people-to-people connections among Indigenous Peoples.
Name of responsible organisation (in English)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand|Ministry of Trade & Industry Singapore (MTI)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chile | Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Republic of Korea
