Adapting to the Digital Trade Era: Challenges and opportunities
Edited by Maarten Smeets

This publication marks the conclusion of the second phase of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP), which aims to support and promote trade-related academic activities by universities and research institutions in developing and least-developed countries. The book brings together contributions from WCP chairholders, Advisory Board members, the WCP team at the WTO and other WTO Secretariat staff. The WCP is an important part of the WTO’s efforts to build trade capacity and to work jointly with academic institutions in developing countries.

Academic institutions awarded WTO Chairs receive support in the areas of curriculum development, research and outreach activities. The chairholders are selected through a competitive process. Fourteen institutions were originally selected as WTO Chairs for a four-year term in 2009. Seven institutions were added to the Programme in 2014.

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• Foreword
• Note on the WTO Chairs Programme
• Note on contributors
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction

The digital trade era – challenges and opportunities for developing countries

• Chapter 1: The impact of digital technologies on developing countries’ trade

Strategic directions and policy implications for developing countries

• Chapter 2: Global value chains in the age of internet: what opportunities for Africa?
• Chapter 3: Opportunities and challenges of e-commerce in Mauritius
• Chapter 4: The digital trade era – opportunities and challenges for developing countries: the case of Kenya
• Chapter 5: E-commerce in Africa: issues and challenges
• Chapter 6: China’s e-commerce development and policy relevance
• Chapter 7: Engaging in the digital economy: issues and agenda in the quest to adopt of Indonesia’s e-commerce roadmap
• Chapter 8: Taxation of international e-trade: Russian particularities
• Chapter 9: Assessing trade facilitation implementation in the era of e-commerce: a comparative analysis of Jordan, Oman
• Chapter 10: The new rules on digital trade in Latin America: regional trade agreements
• Chapter 11: Convergence on e-commerce: the case of Argentina, Brazil and MERCOSUR
• Chapter 12: The digital creative economy and trade: strategic options for developing countries

Making the most of the digital trade era – inclusiveness, gender and development

• Chapter 13: Are digital advances and inclusive growth compatible goals? Implications for trade policy in developing countries
• Chapter 14: Blockchaining international trade: a way forward for women’s economic empowerment?

The ways forward

• Chapter 15: Data regulation in trade agreements: different models and options ahead
• Chapter 16: Converging thoughts on digital trade in preparing for the future

Published in 2021