Australia: Released stabilised text of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce including measures on cross-border data transfer

On 26 July 2024, the Co-Convenors of the Initiative on E-commerce, Australia, Japan and Singapore, announced that the parties agreed on the stabilised text of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce. The Agreement includes provisions specifying that it does not restrict a party adopting it from implementing measures to protect personal data and privacy, including rules for cross-border data transfers. However, the parties must ensure that their laws allow for such transfers under conditions that are generally applicable and objective, covering a broad range of situations and entities. The statement is circulated on behalf of the Joint Statement Initiative participants, excluding Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Paraguay, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Türkiye, and the United States.