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What is the DEPA?
The Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) is the world’s first digital trade agreement. It covers all aspects of the digital economy that support trade in the digital era, from ’digitising’ import and export procedures through to smoother transfer of data, boosting trust in the online environment, and collaborating on emerging technologies, and digital inclusion.
Essentially, the DEPA is a set of rules designed to make trading easier and safer for businesses and consumers who are selling and buying goods and services online. The DEPA contains a series of modules covering different aspects of the digital economy.
Digital Economy Partnership Agreement: the digital evolution
Specifically, the DEPA:
- aims to streamline business processes by promoting paperless ways of doing things (e.g. by promoting the use of e-invoicing);
- builds trust in the online environment through robust commitments on protecting personal information and promoting measures to safeguard consumers online; and
- fosters collaboration on emerging issues (e.g. artificial intelligence (AI) and financial technology (fintech) – DEPA is one of the first trade agreements to cover these novel issues).
The DEPA supports a wide range of exporting sectors, ranging from “start-ups” and tech firms through to traditional primary producers and manufacturers.
The DEPA was signed in an entirely online virtual signing ceremony by New Zealand, Chile and Singapore on Friday 12 June 2020 NZT and entered into force for New Zealand and Singapore on 7 January 2021 and Chile on 23 November 2021.
In addition, the Protocol to the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (the Protocol) was signed on 15 July 2023. The Protocol reinforces the legal certainty and enforceability of key rules in the original DEPA for New Zealand digital exporters and DEPA accession candidates. It entered into force on 19 March 2024.
Who is involved?
There are currently four Parties to the DEPA. New Zealand, Chile, and Singapore were the original signatories. The Republic of Korea officially joined the DEPA in May 2024. Costa Rica was formally invited to accede to the DEPA in January 2025, and is on track to become the fifth member.
The DEPA is designed to be an inclusive framework, open to economies that meet the high standards and intent of the Agreement. Accession Working Groups are currently underway for Canada, China, and Peru. El Salvador, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates have also lodged formal DEPA accession requests.
How does this fit in with other digital work?
The DEPA complements ongoing digital economy work at international fora such as the World Trade Organisation(external link) (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum(external link) (APEC), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development(external link) (OECD).
New Zealand has also built on the DEPA in its more recent trade agreements, including the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement and the NZ UK Free Trade Agreement.