The São Paulo DeclarationDeclaration of the 5th WITSA Global

Policy Action and Trade Summit

Preamble

• Representatives from 30 countries

• Objective: – to consider effective public policies to deliver

the promises of the Digital Age

• Observed:– significant progress made by governments in

developing and implementing digital agendas– continuing economic, social and cultural

transformations through ICT

Preamble (2)

• Observed:– Internet access must be developed through

open and transparent governance; – investment in infrastructure and connectivity

must continue, encouraged by a competitive and supportive business environment

Concerns

• Significant challenges to access.– Disclosures about information protection are

encouraging governments to seek greater control, both of governance arrangements, and of information flowing across their jurisdictions.

– Consequences: • Risks of global fragmentation, and isolation• Unilateral actions intended to “protect citizens” may

cause harm, impose costs, and reduce technology access and choice

Concerns (2)

• A growing trend towards closed preferential trade agreements, which are a departure from multilateral trade liberalization arrangements

• A tendency towards less transparency in trade negotiations, with reduced meaningful stakeholder engagement

Calls to Action

• All governments, stakeholder organizations and business leaders must work constructively to ensure ICTs, and the benefits of their application, are available to all, and to avoid unilateral protective measures

• all nations to recommit to the WTO’s “most favoured nation” and “national treatment” principles, and to the rapid removal of trade barriers

Declaration

• We declare to remove barriers to trade and avoid any actions that may limit access by all the world’s people to the Internet, so that – respecting privacy and security principles – everyone can participate and receive its benefits, and thus deliver the promises of the Digital Age

See you at WCIT 2014