Computer & Communication Industry Association
PublishedJuly 17, 2018

EU and Japan adopt data flow deal, will they now fight against forced data localisation globally?

Brussels, BELGIUM — The European Union and Japan today recognised each others’ data protection systems to allow the free flow of data between their economies.

The agreement is linked to the major trade agreement signed today, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.  The EPA unfortunately addresses only few barriers to digital trade.  On data flows the EPA included a commitment to “reassess within three years … the need for inclusion of provisions on the free flow of data.”

The following can be attributed to CCIA Europe’s Vice President & Head of Office Christian Borggreen:

“Today’s agreement ensures strong protection for consumers and legal certainty for firms transferring data between the EU and Japan. It’s time to build on this success by setting an ambitious trade standard to fight against forced data localisation around the world.”

Japan is the biggest trading partner to have received full EU adequacy recognition. In the past two decades only Andorra, Argentina, Faeroe Islands, Guernsey, Israel, Isle of Man, Jersey, New Zealand, Switzerland and Uruguay have adopted EU type data protection laws. The EU is undertaking trade negotiations with major trading partners, such as Mexico, Australia, and Indonesia. The EU has not been able to agree on trade provisions that would stem the global rise of forced data localisation requirements.  There are more than 75 such measures worldwide. This increasingly hurts European exporters.

For media inquiries, please contact Heather Greenfield [email protected]

 

reading-tablet
  • Press Releases
  • Trade

U.S. Industry Raises Concerns on European Cloud Services Scheme Ahead of EU-U.S. TTC Meetings

Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association and other industry groups sent a letter to the U.S. Administration detailing concerns with the recent developments on the forthcom...
reading-tablet
  • Press Releases
  • Trade

CCIA Statement Following Initial Conclusions on U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade

Washington – The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that they concluded negotiations on the first part of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade. The first agreement under t...
reading-tablet
  • Press Releases
  • Privacy

CCIA Agrees With New York Privacy Bill Goals, But Requests Further Amendments On Compliance Details

Washington –  The Computer & Communications Industry Association filed comments today opposing New York privacy legislation that would set different standards and definitions than other pri...
reading-tablet
  • Press Releases
  • Privacy

CCIA Submits Comments, Testifies Against Harmful Maine Privacy Bills

Washington – CCIA submitted comments and will testify before the Maine State Legislature Monday morning in opposition to three consumer data privacy bills, highlighting concerns around interoperabil...