The Trump Trade Agenda and the Digital Economy

Digital technology is changing how the global economy operates, especially in “low tech” sectors. The Trump trade agenda does not address this transformation.

The challenges for global economic policy are:

1. How do we address products and services that do not fit the traditional templates for trade rules?

2. How do we best balance efficient globalization of digital technologies with public interest regulation on issues such as digital privacy and cyber security?

The governance response will require an emphasis on learning and flexibility in rule making and implementation. A prudent response will require greater emphasis on delegation of detailed rule-making to expert groups subject to government oversight and coordination of national policies through “soft law”.