Session
Subtheme
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 1: Gabriel Navarro, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2: Piero Guasta, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Ricardo Campos, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 4: Dina Santana Santos, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 2: Piero Guasta, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Ricardo Campos, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 4: Dina Santana Santos, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format and 60-minute duration are best suited for this session, as they promote interactive and multistakeholder discussions. Given the complexity of the topic, a roundtable encourages engagement, knowledge sharing and a diversity of perspectives, allowing experts, policy makers, researchers and stakeholders to collaboratively explore the challenges and opportunities. This format facilitates open dialogue, ensuring that participants can actively contribute their views, ask questions and exchange ideas on critical issues such as cross-border data flows, AI governance and digital sovereignty. The 60-minute duration provides a focused yet flexible structure to introduce key concepts, discuss real and emerging agreements, and encourage audience participation. This format, and the discussion that can be generated, can promote bringing together sectoral experts in Internet governance and digital commerce, which is the ultimate goal of this session. The format chosen promotes a deeper understanding of how trade agreements can mitigate Internet fragmentation.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The roundtable format and 60-minute duration are best suited for this session, as they promote interactive and multistakeholder discussions. Given the complexity of the topic, a roundtable encourages engagement, knowledge sharing and a diversity of perspectives, allowing experts, policy makers, researchers and stakeholders to collaboratively explore the challenges and opportunities. This format facilitates open dialogue, ensuring that participants can actively contribute their views, ask questions and exchange ideas on critical issues such as cross-border data flows, AI governance and digital sovereignty. The 60-minute duration provides a focused yet flexible structure to introduce key concepts, discuss real and emerging agreements, and encourage audience participation. This format, and the discussion that can be generated, can promote bringing together sectoral experts in Internet governance and digital commerce, which is the ultimate goal of this session. The format chosen promotes a deeper understanding of how trade agreements can mitigate Internet fragmentation.
Policy Question(s)
A. What challenges arise in aligning trade and digital policies?
B. What legal and policy frameworks beyond international economic law can help address internet fragmentation?
C. How do digital trade agreements interact with broader internet governance principles?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will engage in an interactive workshop exploring the intersection of digital trade and internet governance—an area with limited coverage in existing literature and multistakeholder discussions. This session will provide a unique opportunity to understand how digital trade agreements influence internet fragmentation and global connectivity.
Attendees will gain insights into the Policy Network on Internet Fragmentation (PNIF) framework, including the state of internet fragmentation, key elements of digital trade, and the role of international public law in digital regulation. Through real-world examples, they will examine how trade provisions impact cross-border data flows, net neutrality, cybersecurity cooperation, AI governance, and interoperability.
The session will highlight best practices from digital trade agreements and global regulatory frameworks. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how trade policy can help counteract internet fragmentation and promote an open, resilient, and inclusive digital economy.
SDGs
Description:
According to the Policy Network on Internet Fragmentation (PNIF), internet fragmentation manifests across multiple "baskets", including user experience, multistakeholder coordination, and the technical layer. This session will explore the role of digital trade agreements—whether as standalone frameworks or as digital trade chapters within preferential trade agreements—in mitigating these challenges and fostering a more unified internet. The discussion will explore how digital trade provisions shape and regulate key areas such as digital cooperation, AI governance frameworks, open internet principles, net neutrality, cross-border data flow and data sharing, and the adoption of IPv6, among others. Additionally, the session will analyze how trade rules tackle emerging challenges, including cybersecurity cooperation, digital trust, and the intersection of AI governance and trade policy, all of which play a role in fostering a more interconnected and resilient global internet. By examining developments in key international organizations and forums—including the WTO, Pacific Alliance, European Union, and APEC—as well as recent digital trade agreements such as the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) and digital provisions within larger trade deals like the CPTPP and USMCA, the session will highlight best practices for reducing regulatory divergence. It will also assess the geopolitical implications of digital trade, particularly in the context of growing digital sovereignty policies and regional data localization requirements. Ultimately, the session aims to provide insights into how well-structured digital trade agreements can serve as a tool to counteract internet fragmentation, promote interoperability, and ensure a fair and open digital economy. Understanding these trade mechanisms is essential for policymakers, businesses, and civil society to shape an inclusive and resilient global internet ecosystem.
According to the Policy Network on Internet Fragmentation (PNIF), internet fragmentation manifests across multiple "baskets", including user experience, multistakeholder coordination, and the technical layer. This session will explore the role of digital trade agreements—whether as standalone frameworks or as digital trade chapters within preferential trade agreements—in mitigating these challenges and fostering a more unified internet. The discussion will explore how digital trade provisions shape and regulate key areas such as digital cooperation, AI governance frameworks, open internet principles, net neutrality, cross-border data flow and data sharing, and the adoption of IPv6, among others. Additionally, the session will analyze how trade rules tackle emerging challenges, including cybersecurity cooperation, digital trust, and the intersection of AI governance and trade policy, all of which play a role in fostering a more interconnected and resilient global internet. By examining developments in key international organizations and forums—including the WTO, Pacific Alliance, European Union, and APEC—as well as recent digital trade agreements such as the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) and digital provisions within larger trade deals like the CPTPP and USMCA, the session will highlight best practices for reducing regulatory divergence. It will also assess the geopolitical implications of digital trade, particularly in the context of growing digital sovereignty policies and regional data localization requirements. Ultimately, the session aims to provide insights into how well-structured digital trade agreements can serve as a tool to counteract internet fragmentation, promote interoperability, and ensure a fair and open digital economy. Understanding these trade mechanisms is essential for policymakers, businesses, and civil society to shape an inclusive and resilient global internet ecosystem.
Expected Outcomes
This workshop will address various dimensions of digital trade agreements, therefore it will help connect and build upon existing research in specific areas. It will serve as a foundation for future academic and policy discussions, fostering collaboration among experts from different fields. Expected outcomes:
- Knowledge and multistakeholder network: The session will bridge gaps between existing research and foster cross-disciplinary dialogue on digital trade and internet governance.
- Follow-up events for policy discussions: The insights generated will contribute to conduct seminars throughout the year, deepening discussions on key topics such as AI governance, data flows, and cybersecurity in trade, and how that impact an unified Internet.
- Publications & thought leadership: The session will provide input for the preparation of a new book on digital trade from a Latin American perspective, offering a regional lens on global digital trade governance.
Hybrid Format: - A dedicated online moderator will ensure that remote participants' questions and comments are integrated and responded in real-time, and also using tools like Zoom Q&A and Mentimeter for live interaction.
- The roundtable format will alternate between onsite and online contributions, starting with a short framing presentation and ensuring equal participation opportunities.
- We will use apps/tools for polls and Q&A, Google Docs or similar tool for collaborative inputs, and Zoom chat to enhance engagement between onsite and virtual attendees.