The European Commission’s Trade in Services Agreement negotiations are locked between differences over the proposal’s data flow component, EurActiv reports. “Data flows should not be part of trade agreements,” said NGO European Digital Rights’ Maryant Fernández Pérez. Critics maintain that other countries involved in the deal do not have the same standards of privacy and data protection, therefore potentially undermining the European Union’s data laws. Supporters of the agreement counter that it has “very strong wording” surrounding the protection of EU data laws. “If TiSA fails because of this issue it’s because of the European Union,” said European Services Forum’s Pascal Kerneis.“The European Union would be accused by the rest of the world of being data protectionist,” putting a “chill” on digital trade to the bloc.
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