Digital trade

Digital trade is transforming global commerce, driven by rapid technological advancements and the increasing integration of digital services into traditional trade. Intellectual property plays a pivotal role in this shift, shaping innovation, creativity, and the cross-border exchange of digital goods and services. As economies embrace digitalisation, the Asia-Pacific region stands out as a hub for digital trade activity, presenting both opportunities and challenges for trade policy.

NZCIEL researchers examine how intellectual property frameworks intersect with digital trade, focusing on issues such as cross-border data flows, digital services, and e-commerce. Key areas include the role of free trade agreements in facilitating digital trade, the challenges of aligning international frameworks such as WTO rules with the realities of digital economies, and the policy gaps created by the rapid pace of technological change.