The Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, Mary Ng, announced on Sunday that Canada has formally requested to begin negotiations for Canada’s accession to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA).
DEPA is an arrangement designed to address digital economy issues of interest to businesses, workers and consumers, which was initiated by New Zealand, Chile, and Singapore in January 2021.
"Acceding to the DEPA will further position Canada to influence the design of international rules and standards around evolving technologies, promoting Canadian excellence and increasing Canadian companies’ access to global markets," Ng said.
The government believes that joining the agreement will position Canadian businesses and workers at the forefront of the digital economy.
Canada has been in talks with other DEPA members since early 2021 and held public consultations before formally requesting to join the agreement.