Digital Trade and Regulatory Frameworks

Technologies, including the internet and artificial intelligence (AI), are reshaping the way goods and services are produced, traded and delivered. This publication explores the essential role of regulation in harnessing the potential of digital trade to drive economic development and inclusivity. The publication includes contributions from five WTO Chairs representing Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Mauritius and Morocco. By examining case studies and regulatory practices from these countries, the book identifies best practices and strategies that can be adopted to enhance digital trade participation, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and women entrepreneurs. It underscores the importance of creating a cohesive regulatory environment that fosters cooperation and innovation, thereby enabling countries to thrive in the digital economy while ensuring that all stakeholders can benefit from these advances. To complement the country-level perspectives, additional contributions extend the analysis to regional integration in Asia and the Pacific, electronic procurement, and digital trade facilitation in Africa. Co-published by the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the WTO in 2026.