Overview: The World Trade Organization (WTO) is in a need of reform, including new rules related to digital economy, information technologies and transnational data flows. While there is not yet a comprehensive agenda for the WTO reform, developing e-commerce rules should be seen as an essential part of this agenda. The development of such rules will allow WTO to demonstrate a capacity to remain relevant to the challenges and opportunities governing the data flows. This special issue proposes that WTO would need to increase regulatory cooperation and encourage regulatory practice on e-commerce and digital economy.

Proposed Topics

• Digitalization and digital transformation of firms

• Brands going overseas and the protection of intellectual properties

• Cross-border e-commerce and digital transformation

• Definition and measurement of digital trade

• Gigital agricultue and agricultral trade
  

• Digital infrastructure and the global digital divide

• Global management and governance of digital economy

• Intellectual property and policy issues on digital technologies

• Local storage and cross-border flows of data

• Platform business, economy and its regulation

• Preferences and behaviors of consumers in the digital time

• Rules and standards for digital trade

• Welfare and privacy protection of consumers

 

Important Timelines

• March 31, 2022: Abstract (300 words) with effective email, affiliation, and bio information.

• May 31, 2022: selected draft paper will be notified

• June 10-12, 2022, Selected papers will be invited to present to a special workshop (virtual or in-person, more information will follow)

• July 31, 2022: final papers to be submitted

• December 31, 2022, publication planned

Contact Information