European Union: Announced opening of negotiations on the EU-Korea digital trade agreement including consumer protection

On 31 October 2023, the European Commission Executive Vice-President and the Korean Minister for Trade, following the 11 meeting under the EU-Korea Trade Committee, agreed to launch the negotiations on a digital trade agreement. The agreement would include provisions regarding emerging technologies and the new advancements in the digital economy, with the aim of countering digital protectionism. In particular, one of the key areas for negotiations will be consumer protection measures, such as those preventing unsolicited electronic communications.