WASHINGTON– April 11, 2024 – The Global Data Alliance congratulates all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the recent launch of negotiations towards an ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) – negotiations that were reaffirmed at a recent meeting of ASEAN digital ministers.
The GDA submitted comments to the ASEAN Secretariat and trade ministers in ASEAN Member States with recommendations for the ASEAN DEFA negotiations. The GDA comments urge ASEAN partners to support strong and binding rules that prohibit:
- Unnecessary restrictions on data transfers;
- Data localization requirements;
- Customs duties on electronic transmissions;
- Forced technology transfer requirements and improper source code disclosure mandates; and
- The misuse of technical regulations and standards to create barriers to digital trade and discriminate against non-national persons and technologies.
These rules are an important bulwark against digital protectionism, which undermine legal predictability and economic opportunity for citizens and businesses alike, widening the digital divide.
According to estimates by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), ASEAN DEFA is projected to elevate ASEAN’s digital economy from USD 1 trillion to a formidable USD 2 trillion by 2030. With an agenda of strong rules promoting cross-border access to knowledge, information, and digital tools within ASEAN, the DEFA will have the best chance of meeting this goal.