Event description
Event date: 20 June 2023, 10:00–13:00 CEST
The rapid integration of emerging digital technologies (like AI, IoT, 3D printers, and quantum computing) has fundamentally changed our daily lives. The disruptive nature of this trend presents unique challenges for governments, consumers, and especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Innovative regulatory solutions are needed to harness the benefits of these technologies while mitigating the risks.
This session aims to address the regulatory challenges in this evolving landscape and explore how the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement and the work of the TBT Committee can assist governments and stakeholders in developing appropriate regulations and standards. The goal is to strike a balance that protects consumers, facilitates trade, and adapts to the emerging global digital economy, where the boundaries between tangible and intangible are becoming blurred.
The session will aim to address the following guiding questions:
- What are the challenges and opportunities for trade in intangible digital products? How can standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures help address these challenges and harness these opportunities?
- What is the impact of regulatory interventions on MSMEs in the area of trade in intangible digital products? How to ensure MSMEs are not disproportionately affected by such regulations, and what role can the TBT Committee play in this regard?
- What opportunities exist for regulatory cooperation and standards development between Members and stakeholders (both within and outside the WTO) in the area of emerging digital technologies and how can such cooperation help in avoiding unnecessary regulatory fragmentation in this area?
For more information, and to register, please visit the official page.