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.
USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) is a compliance framework from United States, Mexico, Canada with 10 domains and 24 controls that map to 202 other frameworks. The largest domains are USMCA Chapter 19: Digital Products and Electronic Transactions (5 controls), USMCA Chapter 19: Source Code, Cybersecurity and Open Data (5 controls), USMCA Chapter 19: Consumer and Personal Information Protection (3 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
Framework summaries on this platform are AI-assisted interpretations for educational and compliance planning purposes. They do not reproduce or replace the official standards. Refer to the authoritative source for the definitive text. Framework names and trademarks belong to their respective organisations.
Framework Domains (10)
Data Flows
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCADIGITAL-1 | Cross-Border Data Flows and Localisation |
Government Data
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCADIGITAL-4 | Government Data, Cybersecurity, Interoperability |
Privacy
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCADIGITAL-2 | Personal Information Protection and Consumer Protection |
Source Code
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCADIGITAL-3 | Source Code and Algorithm Protection |
USMCA Chapter 19: Consumer and Personal Information Protection
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCA-19.13 | Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Communications |
| USMCA-19.7 | Online Consumer Protection |
| USMCA-19.8 | Personal Information Protection |
USMCA Chapter 19: Cooperation and Compliance Practices
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCA-19.14 | Cooperation |
| USMCA-19.C | Recordkeeping for Digital Trade Compliance |
| USMCA-19.D | Training and Awareness on Digital Trade Obligations |
USMCA Chapter 19: Data Flows and Computing Facilities
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCA-19.11 | Cross-Border Transfer of Information by Electronic Means |
| USMCA-19.12 | Location of Computing Facilities |
USMCA Chapter 19: Digital Products and Electronic Transactions
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCA-19.3 | Customs Duties on Digital Products |
| USMCA-19.4 | Non-Discriminatory Treatment of Digital Products |
| USMCA-19.5 | Domestic Electronic Transactions Framework |
| USMCA-19.6 | Electronic Authentication and Electronic Signatures |
| USMCA-19.9 | Paperless Trade Administration |
USMCA Chapter 19: Scope and Exceptions
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCA-19.A | Scope and General Provisions |
| USMCA-19.B | Exceptions and Public Policy Objectives |
USMCA Chapter 19: Source Code, Cybersecurity and Open Data
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| USMCA-19.10 | Principles on Access to and Use of the Internet for Digital Trade |
| USMCA-19.15 | Cybersecurity |
| USMCA-19.16 | Source Code |
| USMCA-19.17 | Interactive Computer Services |
| USMCA-19.18 | Open Government Data |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), you already cover:
Vermont Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Data Act (AICDA)
13%
3 controls mapped
Compare →NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements
13%
3 controls mapped
Compare →ISO 15189:2022 - Medical Laboratories Requirements for Quality and Competence
13%
3 controls mapped
Compare →+ 199 more: FedRAMP Rev 5 (13%), IATF 16949:2016 - Quality Management System for Automotive Production (13%)
See all 202 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 202 other frameworks
What is USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) and who does it apply to?
USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) is a compliance framework from United States, Mexico, Canada with 10 domains and 24 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.
What does USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) actually require?
USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) has 24 controls organised across 10 domains. The largest domains are USMCA Chapter 19: Digital Products and Electronic Transactions (5 controls), USMCA Chapter 19: Source Code, Cybersecurity and Open Data (5 controls), USMCA Chapter 19: Consumer and Personal Information Protection (3 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) do I already cover?
USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) maps to 202 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are Vermont Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Data Act (AICDA) (13% coverage), NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements (13% coverage), ISO 15189:2022 - Medical Laboratories Requirements for Quality and Competence (13% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement)?
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 24 controls and track your progress.
Start Your Compliance Journey
Create a free account to run self-assessments, get AI advisory, and track your compliance progress across 686 frameworks.
Get Started Free →Free forever — no credit card required