The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) called for public submissions on the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) negotiations. 

These negotiations are timely given New Zealand’s changing export mix, and will encourage further development of higher value services-based trade.

Chartered Accountants ANZ prepared and lodged its submission to MFAT on 1 July 2019.  The key points of our submission: 

• We recommend the Government nominates an entity, such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, to raise awareness of, and provide education on, the risks and support available to digital economy participants.
• The Government should consider practical support for small to medium entities (SMEs) as they adapt their business infrastructure to the changing nature of payment practices through digital technologies. 
• We support progressing e-invoicing through DEPA.
• We suggest DEPA includes provisions safeguarding consumer and SME access to internet communications and minimising the risk of anti-competitive behaviour by dominant players. This could be achieved through a commitment to net neutrality.
• Privacy and data protection safeguards that appropriately balance privacy rights and encourage innovation in the use of data sets should be built in to DEPA.
• We support DEPA including provisions for an Artificial Intelligence ethical framework.