Indo-Pacific Nations Fragment Digital Trade Rules

At the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé last week, 66 member states agreed to advance the entry-into-force pathway for the WTO E-Commerce Agreement, covering roughly 70% of global trade. The piece outlines how the WTO baseline now sits alongside higher-standard frameworks such as the CPTPP and DEPA, creating layered digital rules. This development forces Indo-Pacific countries to navigate competing rule sets tied to security, supply chains, and geopolitics.