Millions of people worldwide use the Internet. One of the many uses derived from the Internet is the development of digital trade. Digital trade thus lends itself to distinctive issues. The WTO members recognized the benefits digital trade offers and have developed a work program to facilitate the digital trade. However, their efforts have stalled, slowing down the anticipated progress. The author will try to address how the WTO supports and deals with digital trade. This essay briefly discusses the historical advancement of the Internet; defines the concept of digital trade and its development in the international market; analyzes how existing WTO agreements have dealt with digital trade; and then addresses recent trade agreements particularly the USMCA. The USMCA was chosen because it involves the largest economy in the world and the US could use its provisions as template for future trade agreements

1. Introduction
  A. Development of the Internet
  B. Importance of Digital Trade in the Global Market
 2. WTO and Digital Trade
  A. GATS
  B. ITA
  C. WTO Case Law and Digital Trade
 3. The Digital Trade Provisions in the USMCA
 4. Conclusion
 References

• Bashar H. Malkawi(University of Sharjah)