Security News > 2021 > November > China says it applied to join digital free trade deal days after proposing law against cross-border data flow

China's Ministry of Commerce said on Monday the country has officially applied for entry into the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement.

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry described DEPA as "a first of its kind agreement that establishes new approaches and collaborations in digital trade issues, promotes interoperability between different regimes and addresses the new issues brought about by digitalisation."

"China attaches great importance to international cooperation in the digital economy and has decided to apply for joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and is willing to work with all parties to promote the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy," added Xi, as translated from Chinese.

Just last September, Beijing applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, another trade agreement of which Singapore, New Zealand, and Chile were founding members.

The agreement now includes 11 countries and is one of the world's largest free-trade areas by GDP. Many dismissed China's CPTPP application as grandstanding, with some saying the move represented China's realization that it needs stable free trade.

Bloomberg reported last July that White House officials were discussing proposals for an Indo-Pacific digital trade agreement as the administration looked for ways to check China's influence in the region.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/11/02/china_free_trade/