Global ECommerce Enablers and Barriers Presentation to WTOCTD

Global E-Commerce: Enablers and Barriers Presentation to WTO/CTD Seminar on e-commerce Industry Canada Industrie Canada Richard Bourassa Director, International Policy Electronic Commerce Branch Industry Canada June 14, 2001

Forces of Change 4 Accelerating pace of technological change 4 Globalization and liberalization of trade 4 Convergence of technologies, services & markets 4 Mergers & acquisitions restructuring industry 4 Global financial markets and instantaneous movement of capital 4 Wireless expanding mobile communications ICT Revolution -- both a cause and a consequence 2

A New Environment Calling for a New Approach 4 Issue: How to react in a timely fashion to this fast changing environment? 4 Issue: How to stimulate economic growth associated with the ICT Revolution? How to facilitate e-commerce? 4 Issue: How to bridge the many digital divides? Ecommerce is for everyone. 4 Issue: How to work together: governments, private sector, civil society, international organizations? 3 1 st step: a flexible and “stakeholder friendly” legal and policy framework

Canadian Experience: A policy framework to enable e-commerce Building Trust in the Digital Marketplace Ø Privacy, Cryptography, Consumer Protection Clarifying Marketplace Rules Ø Legal, Taxation, Trade Rules, IP Policies Strengthening Information Infrastructure Ø Network Access and Availability, Standards Realizing the Benefits/Market Development Ø Adoption and use in Private Sector and Governments 4

Canadian Experience: Current Initiatives Cryptography · Policy allowing domestic use of any strength cryptography, no mandatory key recovery Consumer Protection · Voluntary business guidelines to protect consumers conducting online transactions Privacy Tax Neutrality · Framework legislation governing the protection of personal information · Commitment to technology neutral taxation regime E-contracts · Uniform Law Conference of Canada E-Signatures Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) · Policy framework for the Government of Canada public key infrastructure 5 · Legal framework for digital signatures in electronic records

International perspectives Context Ø Electronic commerce is inherently global Ø Public or private sector activities will only be effective if they facilitate a global approach Objectives Ø Promote an international environment for global electronic commerce which: - facilitates economic growth - maximizes the social potential - reflects and supports the needs of all countries 6 …To promote Global Frameworks

International Perspectives (cont’d) Approach Ø Develop international collaboration on roles, responsibilities and priorities among all players: - governments private sector civil society international organizations Ø Build on existing multilateral frameworks to: - stimulate enablers for global electronic commerce - remove barriers to trade - promote technological neutrality 7 …To promote Global Frameworks

Future Agenda Understanding the Internet Economy Domestic Legislation Policy Leadership Suppliers of E-commerce Solutions and Services Follow-up to Business Leadership 8 Participating in International Fora Second Generation Policy Issues Accelerating Adoption and Use Private Sector Innovation and Adoption Strengthen Research and Support E Innovation -commerce Clustering Research Agenda

More Info: Industry Canada Electronic Commerce Branch Web Site http: //ecom. ic. gc. ca Richard Bourassa 9 bourassa. richard@ic. gc. ca