BSA Launches Digital Trade Agenda to Advance AI, Quantum, and Next-Gen Innovation

WASHINGTON - The Business Software Alliance (BSA) today released its 2026 Digital Trade Agenda, calling on governments to modernize global trade rules that reflect the realities of today's data-driven economy and support the next generation of AI, cloud-based services, and emerging technologies.

As digital technologies increasingly underpin economic growth across sectors, BSA's agenda outlines a clear and actionable roadmap to modernize trade frameworks, reduce fragmentation, and ensure policies enable responsible innovation.

"The adoption of unnecessary digital trade restrictions creates unintended consequences for innovation and competitiveness across multiple industries," said BSA Senior Director of Policy Joseph Whitlock. "Without clear, forward-looking digital trade rules, the global economy risks fragmenting at a moment when scale and collaboration matter most."

BSA's Digital Trade Agenda offers four key recommendations to align global trade rules with the needs of a modern digital economy:

• Remove trade barriers that restrict data flows, mandate localization, or force disclosure of source code or proprietary technologies as a condition of market access
• Lock in baseline agreements not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions and to refrain from nationality-based discrimination on digital products and services
• Strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity, data privacy, and national security - ensuring measures are tailored to achieve legitimate public policy purposes
• Accelerate adoption of emerging technologies by aligning copyright frameworks for AI training, supporting quantum collaboration, and advancing industry-driven standards

BSA's agenda comes at an especially important inflection point, amid an impasse at the recent World Trade Organization ministerial on extending the bar on digital customs duties and agreeing on a work plan to further collaboration on digital trade rules.

BSA is committed to working with governments and international partners to advance policies that enable trusted data flows, foster innovation, and ensure that the benefits of digital transformation are realized globally.