世界貿易組織規範資料在地儲存要求之芻議

Abstract

於數位化時代下，資料的重要性逐漸被各國政府所重視，進而導致資料在地化法規之施行數量逐年攀升。目前資料在地化措施並無普遍性的定義，惟其通常泛指在特定的司法管轄區內規定數據的存儲、處理或轉移的法規、命令或行政要求。本論文聚焦於研究資料本地儲存規範對於貿易產生的負面影響，檢驗其與服務貿易總協定之間的相容性，並探討前述協定是否足以規範數據本地儲存規範對服務貿易衍生的負面貿易效應。 目前WTO電子商務聯合聲明倡議中，日本及美國皆曾相繼主張應明文禁止資料本地儲存規範，顯見既有的服務貿易總協定似仍不足因應資料本地儲存規範衍生的貿易負面效應。因此，本文亦一併審視各種區域貿易協定及數位經濟協議中存在的「計算設施位置」條款。「計算設施位置」條款廣泛性地禁止資料本地儲存規範作為締約國內進行商業活動的條件，此類條款之規範模式或許可成為日後國際經貿組織監管此類規範之參考依據。本論文的最終目標，旨在透過文獻分析及比較法學研究，向世界貿易組織提議一個規範模式，以此消弭資料本地儲存規範所生之貿易壁壘。

In today’s digital era, data localisation policies have sparked debates regarding their impact on international trade and e-commerce. Data localisation is an ambiguous concept without a universal definition, which can broadly encompass laws, regulations, or administrative requirements mandating the storage, processing, or transfer of data within specific jurisdictions. This thesis particularly focuses on studying the trade implications of local storage requirements and examinines their compatibility with the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

Moreover, since a few WTO Members have advocated for the prohibition of local storage requirements under the Joint Statement Initiative, the adequacy of the existing GATS in addressing the trade impact of such requirements may be questioned from the perspectives of certain Members. Therefore, this thesis seeks to derive insights from the “location of computing facilities” clauses present in various Regional Trade Agreements and Digital Economic Agreements. These clauses typically forbid covered persons from using or locating computing facilities in that Party’s territory as a condition for conducting business in that territory. This thesis aims to propose a potential regulatory framework for local storage requirements within the WTO's e-commerce context.