The rapid development of the Internet has led to a growing potential for electronic trade in digital content like movies, music and software. As a result, there is a need for a global trade framework applicable to such digitally-delivered content products. Yet, digital trade is currently not explicitly recognized by the trade rules and obligations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This study provides a complete analysis of the related challenges in the ongoing WTO Doha Negotiations to remedy this state of affairs. It elaborates on the required measures in the multilateral negotiations to achieve market access for digital content and examines the obstacles that lie on the path to reach consensus between the United States and the European Communities. Negotiation parameters analyzed include the current US and EC regulatory approach to audiovisual and information society services and the evolution of their applicable trade policy jurisdiction. Finally, this examination takes stock of how the Doha Negotiations and parallel US-driven preferential trade agreement have so far contributed to securing free trade in digital content.
Author(s): Sacha Wunsch-Vincent
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 295
Half Title Page......Page 1
Title Page......Page 3
Title verso......Page 4
Contents......Page 7
Table of Figures......Page 11
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Dislcaimer......Page 15
List of Acronyms......Page 17
Table of Legislation......Page 23
Introduction......Page 33
Part One: The WTO Negotiation Context......Page 45
1. The WTO's Work Relating to Digitally-Delivered Content Products......Page 47
1.1 WTO WORK PROGRAMME ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE......Page 48
1.2 DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA......Page 56
1.3 CONCLUSION......Page 63
Part Two: Requirements for Free Trade in Digitally-Delivered Content Products......Page 65
2. Unresolved Horizontal WTO E-Commerce Questions......Page 67
2.1 THE WTO DUTY-FREE MORATORIUM ON ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS......Page 69
2.2 THE CUSTOMS VALUATION OF DIGITAL CONTENT......Page 75
2.3 UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS OF CLASSIFICATION......Page 80
3.1 GOODS: NAMA NEGOTIATIONS AND THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT......Page 113
3.2 SERVICES: THE GATS NEGOTIATIONS......Page 116
CONCLUSION TO PART TWO......Page 130
Part Three: Internal US and EC Negotiation Parameters......Page 133
4. US Negotiation Parameters: Internal Measures and Trade Jurisdiction......Page 135
4.1 INTERNAL DIMENSION: US FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND LAISSEZ-FAIRE APPROACH......Page 136
4.2 EXTERNAL DIMENSION: THE US TRADE POLICY JURISDICTION RELATING TO DIGITAL CONTENT......Page 144
4.3 CONCLUSION......Page 160
5. EC Negotiation Parameters: Internal Measures and Trade Jurisdiction......Page 161
5.1 INTERNAL DIMENSION: EXPANDING AUDIOVISUAL AND INFORMATION SOCIETY POLICIES......Page 162
5.2 EXTERNAL DIMENSION: THE EC’S COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICY POWERS RELATING TO DIGITAL CONTENT......Page 177
5.3 CONCLUSION......Page 195
Part Four: Outcomes of the Doha Round and US-Driven Preferential Trade Negotiations......Page 197
6. Digital Trade Achievements of the Doha Development Agenda: Slow or Absent Progress......Page 199
6.1 UNRESOLVED HORIZONTAL E-COMMERCE QUESTIONS: NO SOLUTIONS FORTHCOMING IN THE DOHA NEGOTIATIONS......Page 200
6.2 ESSENTIAL MARKET ACCESS: SLOW PROGRESS OF THE WTO’S DOHA NEGOTIATIONS......Page 208
6.3 PARALLEL NEGOTIATIONS ON A UNESCO CONVENTION ON THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS......Page 227
6.4 CONCLUSION......Page 231
7. Digital Trade Achievements of Parallel US Bilateral and Regional Trade Negotiations: Mixed Results......Page 233
7.1 TOWARDS LIBERAL DIGITAL TRADE LAWS: US-CHILE AND US-SINGAPORE FTAS BREAK NEW GROUND......Page 234
7.2 ASSESSMENT OF THE BILATERAL US TRADE AGREEMENTS: HALF-WAY HOUSE OR REMARKABLE STEP FORWARD?......Page 251
7.3 CONCLUSION......Page 259
8. Conclusion......Page 261
Annex......Page 265
Bibliography......Page 297
Index......Page 321
