Today we launched our report: “NZ-US Digital Trade Barriers: Are there any?” with a panel discussion on the report, experiences of digital exporters, and the future of NZ-US digital trade.
Jordan Small
Executive Director, NZUS Council
Today the NZUS Council, together with Chapman Tripp, launched an exciting new report “NZ-US Digital Trade Barriers: Are there any?”. A panel discussion followed on the report and the future of NZ-US digital trade.
Report
The report is available here: FINAL – NZUS DIGITAL EXPORTERS web (1)
The report focuses on the experiences of New Zealand’s digital exporters to the US, the challenges (mainly commercial and set up) and trade barriers (not many) they face.
Among the key takeaways of the report are that the US is viewed positively, as a market of ongoing opportunity for our most innovative firms, and continues to be a good place to do business, stable and low-risk. And while there are a range of commercial and set up challenges, which are discussed in the report, exporters really struggled to identify “trade barriers” of the type that would typically be addressed in a digital trade agreement or via an e-commerce chapter in a FTA.
Importantly, the report explores the reasons why New Zealand and the US, two innovative nations and leading thinkers on digital trade governance, should still consider pursuing a digital services agreement, and how New Zealand and US business would benefit from setting the rules of the game so as to ensure a more enabling environment for both New Zealand and the United States’ digital exports.
We hope that this report contributes to informed debate on the future of digital trade in the NZ-US context and the broader trade and economic relationship. Please join us as we kick-off this discussion.
Panel
Jordan Small provided an outline of the report content and key findings before a moderated panel discussion on the report, the experiences of digital exporters, the case for a digital trade agreement with the US, and the future direction and coverage of digital trade agreements.
Panelists include:
* Tracey Epps (panel moderator) – Trade law consultant with law firm Chapman Tripp.
* Stephanie Honey – Trade policy consultant, Deputy Executive Director APEC Business Advisory Council.
* Andy Prow – Founder of cybersecurity firm RedShield and tech entrepreneur, board member NZ Internet Task Force
* Joshua Meltzer – Senior Fellow – Global Economy and Development with Brookings Institute in Washington DC where he has a specific focus on digital trade.
*AJ Smith – CEO/Founder, blockchain firm TradeWindow
* David Hallett – Co-founder, Company-X, software exporter