Building Blocks of Digital Trade Regulation

Digital trade is reshaping how economies grow, compete, and connect — but the rules governing it are still taking shape. This series examines four regulatory areas that are fundamental to a functioning digital economy: online consumer protection, cybersecurity, digital technical standards, and cross-border data flows.

Each primer offers an accessible introduction to its regulatory area, explains why it matters for digital trade and the wider digital economy, and looks at the main policy approaches being adopted internationally. The reports consider how countries are tackling these issues through domestic regulation, as well as how cooperation and commitments are evolving through regional and international trade agreements.

The series is designed primarily to support policymakers in developing countries, where digital regulation is often relatively new and frameworks may not have kept pace with rapid digitalization. It gives particular attention to the challenges, policy choices, and capacity constraints these economies face — including how governments can pursue digital trade opportunities while preserving the regulatory space to address domestic priorities.

Taken together, the primers provide a practical foundation for understanding the key building blocks of a more inclusive, trusted, and well-functioning digital economy.

The Experts Behind the Series

• Rashid S. Kaukab
• Neha Mishra
• Craig Atkinson
• Hanane Becha
• Marilia Maciel