GLOBAL ETRADE: IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL EPOLICY FORUM ON ICT, TRADE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

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GLOBAL E-TRADE IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL
E-POLICYFORUM ON ICT, TRADE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

• ADDIS ABABA
• 14-16 MARCH 2006

Richard Bourassa Industry Canada
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TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

• TELECOM, IT as enablers platform to conduct
  trade in goods, services
• Convergence telecom, broadcasting, IT
• New web-based services resulting from convergence
• VOIP
• Webcast
• On-line info services

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BUSINESS TRENDS

• Integration of IT in business processes so as to
  improve productivity
• Outsourcing offshoring
• E-commerce as a new way of doing business
• Solid growth despite dot.com bubble burst
• Global supply chain management
• From presence on the web to an integrated
  business model
• New business models Amazon e-Bay Google

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GEO POLITICS TRENDS

• Trade blocks
• Emergence of China
• Emergence of India
• Regional and bilateral trade alliances/ agreements

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TRADE POLICY TRENDS

• Trade in services growing more quickly than trade
  in goods
• WTO-DOHA Round
• Development issues trade facilitation
• Role of the G-20
• Non market access issues domestic regs,
• Services
• Developing countries are demandeurs
• Recognition that telecom and CRS are enablers
• Strong commitments
• Increasing difficulty in differentiating modes of
  delivery

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TRADE POLICY TRENDS

• E-commerce as a new way of doing business
• Challenges existing agreements
• Difficult to address
• But is a reality financial, logistics, courier,
  advertising, professional, etc.
• Linkages to WIPO Treaties WSIS UNCITRAL

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TRADE POLICY TRENDS

• Regional/Bilateral
• Bilateral negotiations as Plan B in case Doha
  fails
• Regional blocks getting stronger
• Strength of African sub-regional economic/trade
  structures ?
• ICT as an enabler
• E-commerce/e-business as a cross-cutting issue
• Starting to see e-com chapters in bilateral FTA

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CHALLENGES

• E-business is a reality everywhere
• It poses new challenges in terms of trade policy
• Current trade agreements lag behind business
  realities
• Countries need to move swiftly to take advantage
  of new opportunities
• Governments and businesses need to take action

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THE WAY FORWARD KEY ELEMENTS

• Put in place an enabling environment (offensive
  approach)
• Attract ICT businesses
• Improve use of ICT in all sectors
• Improve productivity
• (Avoid use of trade barriers (defensive
  approach))
• Skills development adoption and use of ICT
• Business needs to innovate
• to rethink their business processes

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THANK YOU

• Richard Bourassa
• Industry Canada
• Bourassa.richard_at_ic.gc.ca
• www.ecom.ic.gc.ca