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The e-commerce chapters in EU FTAs and the current UNCITRAL work

Publication at Faculty of Law |
2017

Abstract

The European Union has a long history of involvement in electronic commerce. Similarly, the same statement applies on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) which since 1992 follows this agenda.

The issue of e-commerce is thus familiar to both international organisations. Current development in international trade law however injects new dynamism into this domain.

The EU under framework of the Common Commercial Policy at present negotiates ambitious free trade agreement with third countries. This approach also contains a chapter on e-commerce which strives for liberalisation in the highly regulated area.

The UNCITRAL instruments, particularly the latest UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) adopted in July 2017, on the other hand offers an approach different but complementary to the EU effort. Together, they represent strong incentives for a globally oriented approach in e-commerce state of art regulation.