Consumer Protection in the Digital Economy: Issues for developing countries

About the Event

As consumers increasingly shop online and engage with suppliers across borders, countries face growing pressure to update their consumer protection policies to ensure safe, reliable, and secure transactions in the digital realm. This webinar highlighted the critical role of online consumer protection in fostering a trustworthy environment for digital trade. 

The session explored emerging approaches to deal with online consumer protection, including in trade agreements, with a particular focus on a few regional trade agreements (RTAs) and the World Trade Organization Joint Statement Initiative Agreement on Electronic Commerce. Experts also addressed the unique challenges faced by developing countries in modernizing their consumer protection policies by offering insights on how these nations can strengthen their frameworks moving forward. 

This webinar is the first in a series of technical sessions hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). It aims to enhance participants' understanding of how key policy and regulatory frameworks are being adapted to support the expansion of the digital economy and digital trade. We gratefully acknowledge the valuable support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). 

The session was open to the public and was particularly valuable for trade policy-makers, especially those from developing countries. 

Panel

• Moderator: Rashmi Jose, Senior Policy Advisor
• Speaker: Rashid S. Kaukab, Senior Specialist, Trade and Sustainable Development, IISD
• Discussants: 
  • H.E. Mrs. Mere Falemaka, Ambassador of Pacific Islands Forum Mission in Geneva
  • Arnau Izaguerri Vila, Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)