[bestbits] WTO Needs Far-Reaching Digital Trade Pact, Experts Say

[Nick Ashton-Hart]

I would actually say that the situation is very different.

Firstly, the only way that a formal negotiation will happen amongst inside the WTO is ifthere is consensus amongst the entire membership to do that. Consensus at the WTO effectively means unanimity, and that’s a very scarce commodity.

Secondly, TISA is a plurilateral. For it to become a WTO agreement - which is what would be necessary for it to be deposited as mentioned below, the entire membership would have to agree that it becomes a WTO agreement. I see absolutely no political possibility that this would happen nor do I know of anyone who thinks that’s politically possible.

Thirdy, TISA is only services. A broad-based digital economy agreement would cover more than services.

There are various ways for a plurilateral like TISA to be globalised which is I suspect what Carolina is getting at with the comment about it being deposited at the WTO. Perhaps the most straightforward - and it isn’t straightforward politically - is for the parties to it to agree they will extend it on an MFN basis to non-participating countries.

> On 25 Jan 2016, at 12:22, Carolina Rossini <carolina.rossini at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> yes, that is true...there will not be negotiation IF the strategy is to just have other countries sign on to TISA when that one is deposited at WTO and open for additional signatories (which we have heard of already)
> 

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