China to Join Talks on $25 Trillion E-Commerce Market at Last Minute
- Aim of talks is agreement to set global rules on data flows
- U.S. and EU had resisted Chinese efforts to water down goals
Workers prepare boxes for delivery at a sorting center in Lianyungang.
Photographer: STR/AFP via Getty Image
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China will join a group including the U.S. and the European Union in negotiating new rules to cover the $25 trillion e-commerce market.
The EU and 47 other members of the World Trade Organization launched the discussions, according to a Friday statement. If successful, a digital trade accord hashed out through the Geneva-based trade body would establish a baseline international regime for 21st century trade and reduce cross-border hurdles to e-commerce.