Consumers receive benefits from digital trade, such as greater competition which provides more choice and lower prices. Enabling data flows and digital commerce across borders is vital to unlocking the potential benefits of digital innovation for consumers.

Notwithstanding the benefits, governments around the world impose a range of barriers to digital trade. In some cases, barriers are imposed for legitimate public policy reasons, such as protecting privacy or national security. In other cases, barriers to digital trade may be inadvertent or erected for purely protectionist reasons.

The Business Council recommends that the Australian Government should continue to play an international leadership role in digital trade.

Submission to Response to the future of digital trade rules discussion paper