World Trade Organization (WTO) Deputy Director-General Anabel González recently made remarks about how with the uncertain future of digital technology, more cooperation is needed in order to create more trade opportunities.
González discussed how a shortage of global standardized strategies to trade digitally is leading to bigger expenses for businesses and consumers, at the roundtable organized by the Business Council for International Understanding and Google on Wednesday. She also talked about how digital trade is a chance for businesses around the globe to be more integrated and connected.
“Digital trade allows business to tap into new markets at lower cost and acquire better technologies and managerial capabilities by becoming part of global production networks,” González said at a WTO roundtable, available in a press release. “To turn the huge potential of digital trade into tangible benefits, governments must deploy the right policies, including policies to build trust and confidence in the digital economy and help mobilize the massive investments needed to expand the digital economy and shrink the digital divide. We have many best practices from which governments can learn.”
She summarized by pointing out how widespread digitalization has become at the WTO.
"Digitalization increasingly permeates all areas of WTO work,” González said.
González drew attention to the World Trade Organization’s work on digital trade, such as the decision at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference to extend a longstanding ban on customs duties on electronic transmissions, ongoing negotiations on global rules on electronic commerce among 87 WTO members and policy deliberations in WTO committees on the trade aspects of a wide range of digital issues. She asked for the business community to support the work of the WTO in this field.
Originally from Costa Rica, González has worked as WTO deputy director-general since June 2021. In government, González served as minister of foreign trade of Costa Rica and held other roles such as special ambassador and chief negotiator, vice-minister of trade and director-general for trade negotiations. She worked as director-general of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency as well.
She also has previous experience with the WTO and with the World Bank as senior director of the Global Practice on Trade and Competitiveness.