Free

Crafting a Strategy: UK International Digital Policy Cooperation

Free

Crafting a Strategy: UK International Digital Policy Cooperation

We are delighted that Graham Floater, Director of Trade Policy at the Department of International Trade, will be our keynote speaker for the event.

It is essential that the UK develops its own strategy on how to approach digital and technological issues in the international arena, that goes beyond just trade deals and looks more holistically at how to enable international digital policy cooperation that delivers commercial, governance, and societal value to the UK. There needs to be consideration given to how to influence other countries to build alignment with UK positions and interests. In particular, the UK faces a challenge influencing both the United States and the EU. Lacking at seat at the table at the TTC and lacking the economic weight to make that a trilateral forum, the UK needs to develop other means to influence its most important trading partners and allies.

To do this, the UK government needs to do three things:

1. It must critically assess all of the relationships and international forums it is a part of and how these can be used in a strategic way to make progress towards UK goals in the digital arena.

2. It must pair this with a greater focus on the international opportunities for domestic actors, especially UK regulators. Recent progress in facilitating regulatory coordination domestically should not ignore the international picture.

3. It must articulate this strategy to industry and civil society by providing opportunities and forums for critical feedback while also creating advocates and allies who can support UK objectives in non[1]governmental forums. This should include the UK government working closely and strategically with UK non-governmental actors, for example in international standards setting bodies to ensure the greatest possible UK influence over the emerging global consensus around standards for the digital economy.

Antony Walker, Deputy CEO of techUK, will deliver the presentation of the report. Afterwards there will be an interactive panel discussion and we are delighted to have following speakers join us:

  • Dr. Thomas Goldsmith, Director, Innovation Policy, Mitacs (Chair)
  • Matthew Peake, Global Director, Public Policy, Onfido
  • Sabina Ciofu, Associate Director – International, techUK
  • Lawrence Kay, Head of Future Digital Trade Policy and Analysis in the Digital Trade Team, DCMS
  • Erik van der Marel, Senior Economist, ECIPE, Associate Professor, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Date: Thursday 12 May 2022
Location: Online via Zoom Webinar
Time: 13:00 - 14:30 UK time

Please kindly note the Zoom meeting dial-in details will be sent close to the event date and the webinar will be recorded.

Zoe Brockbank ([email protected]) remains at your disposal should you wish to receive any further information.