Efforts to develop global digital trade rules progressed Friday when dozens of nations completed negotiations with a draft text, but additional talks are likely to be required because the United States and many other countries are still not on board.
Protections for online customers, digitisation of customs procedures, and recognition of electronic signatures are among the steps outlined in the document to promote and facilitate digital transactions.
The European Union’s trade head, Valdis Dombrovskis, described the text as “historic,” noting that countries had “negotiated the first global rules on digital trade.”
“This will facilitate e-transactions, boost innovation, and integrate developing countries into the digital economy, in the Southern region of the country.
“We must ensure that we appeal (to protesters) so that they can give the Federal Government a little bit of time to correct since it is a global thing.”
He acknowledged the right of the people to protest, but warned against the damage of public and private assets during scheduled rallies, claiming that the people would suffer if such assets were burned.
The planned protests over economic hardship, which are gathering steam on social media, are set to take place in all states of the Federation as well as the nation’s capital, Abuja, in August.
Prices of food and basic commodities have skyrocketed in recent months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation rates and economic problems precipitated by the government’s dual policies of removing petrol subsidies and unifying FX windows.
The police, military, and Department of State Services have warned against Kenya-style protests. Politicians, fearing that the planned rallies will wind up similar to the EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020, have continued to plead to youngsters to postpone the rallies, but the young people remain steadfast in their determination to hold the protests.