1 October 2021

Prof. Dr. Ingrid Schneider will contribute as a panelist to the session “Data as a stock-in-trade in global trade: Looking beyond outdated notions around data flows” at the WTO Public Forum. The session will be held on the 1st of October (10:00 to 11:00 Geneva time). Registration is already closed, but audio and video will be available from the programme shortly after most sessions.

WTO Public Forum 2021

Link: https://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum21_e/public_forum21_e.htm

Working Session 80: Data as a stock-in-trade in global trade: Looking beyond outdated notions around data flows

accompanying information for this session as provided by WTO programme:
"Data is universally spoken of as the key economic resource today. Strangely enough, this is not the way data is treated in global digital trade discussions. This paradox is the reason for the global stalemate on the ‘data issue’, inadequately represented as a contest between ‘data flows’ and ‘data constraints’, respectively as good and bad things. Progress can only be made by bringing centre-stage in ‘e-com discussions’ data’s nature as a prime economic resource in a digital economy. Continually discussing data only in terms of privacy, security, trade facilitation, etc., is no longer adequate. Earlier mostly a developing countries’ concern, recent policy developments in some developed countries also highlight the need for focusing directly on economic dimensions of data at the WTO. This Working Session seeks to do so by bringing in experts from both the South and the North."

Panellists:
Vahini Naidu, Coordinator, Trade for Develment Program, South Centre
Sofia Scasserra, Researcher, Transnational Institute
Ingrid Schneider, Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Hamburg
Parminder Jeet Singh, Executive Director, IT for Change

Moderator:
Gita Sen, General Coordinator, DAWN