Korea Trade Review (무역학회지)

Korea Trade Research Association (한국무역학회)
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Institutional Arrangements and Dispute Settlement Mechanism in Major Digital Trade Agreements: A Comparative Analysis and Its Implications for Korea

주요 디지털통상협정 내 제도적 장치 및 분쟁해결제도 비교 분석 및 한국에의 시사점

  • Bomin Ko (Department of International Studies, Catholic University of Korea)
  • 고보민 (가톨릭대학교 국제학부)
  • Received : 2022.10.10
  • Accepted : 2022.10.30
  • Published : 2022.10.30
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Abstract

This study first classifies and organizes provisions on institutional arrangements (or IAs) and dispute settlement mechanism(or DSM) in a digital trade agreement. Then it conducts a case study on seven major digital trade agreements: the CPTPP, the USJDTA, the USMCA, the ASDEA, the RCEP, the KSDPA, and the DEPA. And it finally derives implications for Korea to improve implementation of DTAs by communicating better and resolving disputes efficiently with the help of IAs and DSM-related provisions. IAs of a digital trade agreement can be defined as a set of agreements on the division of the respective responsibilities of agencies involved in implementing and enforcing the agreement, including committees, working groups, or contact points. DSM of a digital trade agreement includes consultation, mediation, arbitration, and establishment of a panel. Comparing six FTAs with an e-commerce chapter, the CPTPP, the USMCA, and the RCEP contain the most advanced type of IA provisions while the CPTPP, the USMCA, the RCEP, and the KSDPA have that of DSM provisions. Korea is its initial stage as it has only signed the KSDPA with Singapore as well as it is about to launch a new digital trade negotiation for the DEPA, the CPTPP, and even the IPEF, it is necessary to engage in negotiations with a clearer position on behalf of Korean digital companies. As provisions on IAs and DSM are important policy tools that can reflect industry concerns and convey proposals in inter-governmental dialogue, a Korean draft of the IAs and DSM-related provision should be prepared in advance.

Keywords

References

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