A Study on Digital Trade from RCEP to CPTPP and onto Global Convergence

The fourth industrial revolution is driving a sharp increase in volumes of digital trade and reshaping the global value chain order around Asia and China. Despite efforts by the WTO to achieve a global regulation on e-commerce, a complete agreement in its key topics is yet to occur. In the meantime, the US, EU, and China have offered models for data sovereignty in their trade agreements. With China as a signatory member in the RCEP and currently applying for the CPTPP, these developments may impact WTO in concluding the JSI. This paper seeks to review the three models of data sovereignty, analyze the e-commerce chapters of RCEP and CPTPP, and provide implications on the digital trade regulations for global convergence under the WTO.