An Analysis of E-commerce Provisions in Sino-Latin American Relations

Abstract

The patterns in international economic relations have changed in the last decades as the relevance of intangibles rises. There is a growing concern on developing digital trade which may help to diversify and add value to exports. The use of digital platforms may directly connect SMEs with consumers, expanding their market access or allowing traditional services such as education, medicine, among others, to be traded across borders. This has become particularly relevant for China and Latin America, which trade relations have been characterized by the exchange of raw materials (export of commodities from Latin America to China) and final consumption goods (imported from China to the region). A problem toward the development of digital economy is the fragmentation of normative frameworks that will promote cross-border exchanges. In this context, the objective of this chapter is to analyze the digital trade dimension of Sino-Latin American relations, with special emphasis on the inclusion of e-commerce-related provisions in their international agreements. It is concluded that the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement can be used as a benchmark to guide the current and future negotiations between China and Latin American economies.