Data Flows Rules in Preferential Trade Agreements: Design, Evolution and Implications

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to shed light on the rules created in preferential trade agreements (PTAs), their evolution over time, and the positioning of the main stake-holders – the EU and the US. The mapping of the new data governance regime in trade agreements should not however be contained to these major players, and the chapter seeks to provide a more comprehensive mapping of data-related norms, found in other agreements, to help us understand better the big picture of the regulatory framework for digital trade, as well as highlight trends in rule-diffusion and their potential implications.