Presentation to WTO/CTD Seminar on e-commerce Richard Bourassa Director, International Policy Director, International Policy Electronic Commerce Branch Industry Canada Industry Canada Industrie Canada June 14, 2001 Global E-Commerce: Enablers and Barriers Enablers and Barriers Global E-Commerce: Enablers and Barriers Enablers and Barriers

4Accelerating pace of technological change 4Globalization and liberalization of trade 4Convergence of technologies, services & markets 4Mergers & acquisitions restructuring industry 4Global financial markets and instantaneous movement of capital 4Wireless expanding mobile communications Forces of Change 2 ICT Revolution -- both a cause and a consequence

4Issue: How to react in a timely fashion to this fast changing environment? 4Issue: How to stimulate economic growth associated with the ICT Revolution? How to facilitate e-commerce? 4Issue: How to bridge the many digital divides? E- commerce is for everyone. 4Issue: How to work together: governments, private sector, civil society, international organizations? A New Environment Calling for a New Approach 3 1st step: a flexible and stakeholder friendly legal and policy framework

Canadian Experience: A policy framework to enable e-commerce 4 Privacy, Cryptography, Consumer Protection Legal, Taxation, Trade Rules, IP Policies Network Access and Availability, Standards Adoption and use in Private Sector and Governments Building Trust in the Digital Marketplace Clarifying Marketplace Rules Clarifying Marketplace Rules Strengthening Information Infrastructure Realizing the Benefits/Market Development Realizing the Benefits/Market Development

Canadian Experience: Current Initiatives Tax Neutrality Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Policy framework for the Government of Canada public key infrastructure CryptographyCryptography Consumer Protection Policy allowing domestic use of any strength cryptography, no mandatory key recovery Voluntary business guidelines to protect consumers conducting online transactionsPrivacyPrivacy Commitment to technology neutral taxation regime Framework legislation governing the protection of personal informationE-contractsE-contractsE-SignaturesE-Signatures Uniform Law Conference of Canada Legal framework for digital signatures in electronic records 5

International perspectives Electronic commerce is inherently global Public or private sector activities will only be effective if they facilitate a global approach Promote an international environment for global electronic commerce which: facilitates economic growth maximizes the social potential reflects and supports the needs of all countries …To promote Global Frameworks Context Objectives 6

Develop international collaboration on roles, responsibilities and priorities among all players: governments private sector civil society international organizations Build on existing multilateral frameworks to: stimulate enablers for global electronic commerce remove barriers to trade promote technological neutrality Approach …To promote Global Frameworks International Perspectives (contd) 7

Future Agenda Private Sector Innovation and Adoption Support E-commerce Clustering Second Generation Policy Issues Participating in International Fora Domestic Legislation Research Agenda Follow-up to Business Leadership Suppliers of E-commerce Solutions and Services Understanding the Internet Economy Policy Leadership Strengthen Research and Innovation Accelerating Adoption and Use 8

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