USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement)
Chapter 19 (Digital Trade) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, effective July 2020) establishes digital trade rules between the US, Mexico, and Canada. It is the most comprehensive digital trade chapter in any trade agreement. Key provisions include prohibition on customs duties on digital products, free cross-border data flows, prohibition on data localisation, source code protection, liability protections for online platforms (Section 230-equivalent), and consumer protection. The chapter sets the gold standard for digital trade provisions in FTAs.
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Framework Domains (6)
Consumer and Privacy Protection
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 19.13 | Unsolicited commercial electronic communications |
| Art. 19.15 | Cybersecurity |
| Art. 19.7 | Online consumer protection |
| Art. 19.8 | Personal information protection |
Cross-Border Data Flows
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 19.10 | Principles on access to and use of the internet |
| Art. 19.11 | Cross-border transfer of information by electronic means |
| Art. 19.12 | Location of computing facilities |
| Art. 19.16 | Source code |
Digital Trade Rules
Core digital trade provisions
Electronic Transactions Framework
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 19.5 | Domestic electronic transactions framework |
| Art. 19.6 | Electronic authentication and electronic signatures |
| Art. 19.9 | Paperless trading |
Platform Governance and Open Data
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 19.14 | Cooperation |
| Art. 19.17 | Interactive computer services |
| Art. 19.18 | Open government data |
Scope and General Provisions
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 19.1 | Definitions |
| Art. 19.2 | Scope and general provisions |
| Art. 19.3 | Customs duties |
| Art. 19.4 | Non-discriminatory treatment of digital products |
Maps to 596 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement)?
USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) is a compliance framework from United States, Mexico, Canada with 6 domains and 18 controls. Chapter 19 (Digital Trade) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, effective July 2020) establishes digital trade rules between the US, Mexico, and Canada. It is the most comprehensive digital trade chapter in any trade agreement. Key provisions include prohibition on customs duties on digital products, free cross-border data flows, prohibition on data localisation, source code protection, liability protections for online platforms (Section 230-equivalent), and consumer protection. The chapter sets the gold standard for digital trade provisions in FTAs. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) have?
USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) has 18 controls organised across 6 domains. The largest domains are Consumer and Privacy Protection (4 controls), Cross-Border Data Flows (4 controls), Scope and General Provisions (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) map to?
USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) maps to 596 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) (44% coverage), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — E-Commerce Chapter (39% coverage), European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) (33% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) compliance?
Start your USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about USMCA Chapter 19 — Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 18 controls and track your progress.
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