Shaping Digital Trade and Cross – Border Commerce
Across the Asia-Pacific region, policymakers convened in Guangzhou to tackle rapid digital transformation affecting trade, economics productivity and social wellbeing. This gathering occurred under the umbrella of the first senior officials’ meeting of the year, where representatives from APEC economies exchanged insights on keeping markets open and building trust in digital systems. As part of these discussions, attention turned to enhancing cooperation under the Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap, which emphasizes practical policies that support digital trade and system interoperability while fostering innovation.
For example, new e-commerce formats, such as live-straming sales and social commerce, were explored for their potential to expand cross-border trade opportunities, particularly for small and medium enterprises, even as questions about consumer protection and regulatory oversight persist. Alongside these considerations, participants stressed the importance of accurately measuring digital trade through reliable data, given that digital transactions are becoming an increasingly significant component of overall economic activity in the region. In this context, digital trade is seen not only as a source of efficiency and growth but also as a platform for inclusive participation across sectors and economies.
Advancing AI Capabilities and Online Safety
Meanwhile, a significant portion of the discussions focused on artificial intelligence and its broad societal implications. Participants shared strategies for strengthening resilience and building AI-related capabilities, such as through education, public awareness, and workforce preparation for technological change. These efforts reflect a recognition that AI adoption is accelerating and that preparing workers, businesses and institutions for its impacts is essential for long-term competitiveness and social stability.
At the same time, there was a concerted emphasis on addressing online safety concerns, particularly as children and vulnerable groups engage more deeply with digital environments. Emerging policy responses aimed at reducing harmful content and exploitation were weighed against preserving the benefits of online engagement for learning and creativity. Taking these perspectives together highlights how digital technologies can drive growth while also posing challenges that require coordinated responses across economies. Looking ahead, the host economy outlined plans for additional initiatives, such as a regional Digital Week in 20206, to deepen cooperation on digital transformation, AI and data-driven growth.
Source:
APEC Digital Economy Steering Group. (2026, 3 de febrero). Digital Trade, AI and online safety in focus at Asia-Pacific policy discussion. APEC. https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2026/digital-trade–ai-and-online-safety-in-focus-at-asia-pacific-policy-discussion