Smaller Economies See Big Opportunities in Digital Trade Pact

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - In a world replete with international economic and trade organizations — most of them best known by acronyms such as WTO, OECD, APEC, ITO, TPP and MERCOSUR — who needs one more? 

Apparently Canada, which is eagerly seeking to join Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in a new grouping known as the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, or DEPA.  The three DEPA signatories are still considering Canada's bid to join the partnership, which entered into force just three months ago, although Chile must still ratify its participation. Other countries interested in joining include Japan, South Korea and Britain.  DEPA's appeal, according to analysts, lies in its narrow focus on digital issues and the fact that there is no huge economic power among its members to dominate discussions and drown out the smaller countries.