A. General Information
ASEAN-Australia Digital Trade Standard Initiative
ASEAN member states National Standard Bodies
ASEAN member states National Standard Bodies
B. Lessons Learned
The ASEAN-Australia digital trade standard (DTS) initiative was established to support greater implementation of digital trade standards by ASEAN member states (AMS) to increase digital trade for regional prosperity and security.
The Initiative seeks to contribute to greater implementation of digital trade standards by ASEAN Member States (AMS), to increase digital trade for regional prosperity and security. The Initiative seeks to have strong alignment with the priorities of the 2017 Australian Government Foreign Policy White Paper, the Economic Recovery pillar of DFAT's Partnerships for Recovery policy and ASEAN Economic Community pillar It hence aims to raise awareness of DTS development processes in AMS, better engage national standard bodies and digital trade agencies in international DTS and eventually the greater adoption of priority DTS by AMS.
National standards harmonization
Digital trade standards and norms
- Capacity building workshops by Standard Australia in cooperation with ISO and regional partners - Development of a standards mapping exercise by Access Partnership to identify standards linked to economic priorities - Development and approval of a work plan by access partnership - Development of ten AMS playbooks - Report on Singapore-Australia digital trade - Capacity building workshops and digital trade symposium - Market reports - Subject matter reports - E-learning course - Digital Trade survey - Policy Brief
A key challenge facing the Initiative is leveraging its valued position as an early mover and supporter of ASEAN’s DTS efforts. AMS and ASEC requested more visibility and engagement by the Australian Government, reflecting the priority and value they place on Australia’s role in DTS. The unique position Australia has established in relation to ASEAN’s digital trade agenda will require attentive management, senior and official engagement, given competing interests and donor entry into the digital trade policy area, to retain the trusted position Australia has built through the DTS Initiative with ASEAN. Other risks include the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Initiative’s ability to develop relationships and networks in a COVID-19 constrained operating environment.
- The Initiative is investing in the right areas. It is relevant to Australia’s stated priorities, valued by AMS NSBs and well-integrated into ASEAN systems. The Initiative has effectively helped enhance knowledge of key international DTS that support digital trade and national priorities. While the extent to which AMS agencies are advocating for adoption of priority DTS has been mixed across AMS and across standards, the development of the DTSCWG demonstrates a greater emphasis on DTS adoption. The participation of AMS in international standards fora has increased in recent years and this is partially attributable to the Initiative. - DTS is managing its resources efficiently, particularly in terms of management arrangements and financial administration, but further development of governance arrangements is required and there is more work to be done on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) implementation. - The program is beginning to promote GEDSI more effectively. - DTS has proven highly adaptive and relevant in response to COVID-19.
DFAT and ISO