China is One Step Closer to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement†

中国距离《数字经济伙伴关系协定》又近了一步*

Digest | 文摘

On August 18, 2022, the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (the “DEPA”) Joint Committee formally established an Accession Working Group to examine China’s application to join the agreement.  Signed in June 2020 by Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore, the DEPA is a pioneering agreement that helps facilitate digital trade and establishes standards for fostering international cooperation in the digital economy.  Apart from China, South Korea has also submitted its application to join the agreement.

China’s application will be examined by focusing on the country’s ability to meet the DEPA’s obligations.  Among other requirements, parties to the agreement shall “endeavor to promote the adoption of ethical and governance frameworks that support the trusted, safe and responsible use of AI technologies” and “adopt or maintain a legal framework that provides for the protection of the personal information of the users of electronic commerce and digital trade”.

How will the prospects of joining the DEPA further accelerate the development of China’s cross-border e-commerce in Asia, Latin America, and Oceania?  Will China’s effort to join the DEPA help bring Chinese law in line with the international standards stated in the agreement?  

2022年8月18日，《数字经济伙伴关系协定》（DEPA）联合委员会正式成立工作组，查考中国加入该协定的申请。DEPA 由智利、新西兰和新加坡于 2020 年 6 月签署，是一项开创性协定，有助于促进数字贸易，并为促进数字经济的国际合作制定标准。除中国外，韩国也提交了加入该协定的申请。

查考中国的申请时，将重点关注该国履行 DEPA 义务的能力。除了其他要求外，协定成员国还需要“努力促进采用那些支持以可信、安全和负责任的方式使用人工智能技术的道德和治理框架”，并“采用或维持一个能保护电子商务和数字贸易用户的个人信息的法律框架”。

加入DEPA的前景将如何进一步加速中国跨境电子商务在亚洲、拉丁美洲和大洋洲的发展？中国为了加入 DEPA而作出的努力是否会有助于中国法律与该协定所规定的国际标准接轨？

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^† This piece was contributed by Camila Elyse Katz and David Wei Zhao, and was edited by SINOTALKS.COM.

^* 此文章由孔晶晶和赵炜提供，并由丝络谈™编辑。

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