PROSPECTS AND OBSTACLES IN GLOBAL TRADE OF DIGITAL SERVICES

Abstract

The global trade landscape has witnessed a remarkable surge in the exchange of digital services, encompassing activities ranging from videoconferencing to online shopping and professional services. Notably, this digital services trade has outpaced the growth rate of traditional goods trade, assuming a pivotal role in sustaining economies worldwide, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when lockdowns compelled people to stay at home and rely on digital connectivity. This article scrutinizes the evolution of international trade in digital services during the pandemic era. It embarks on an analysis, utilizing case studies and data-driven insights, to discern whether this surge presents opportunities or challenges for digital service providers. International trade in digital services, fundamentally rooted in digitally enabled service businesses, encompasses a wide array of activities such as financial consulting, tourism, telecommunications, video platforms, and various professional services. While digital technology underpins these services, some aspects still involve physical delivery. For instance, online shopping involves digital processes for searching, price comparison, and order placement, yet the goods themselves are physically transported. Notably, companies engaged in international trade of digital services enjoy a unique advantage, as they can cater to a global clientele through digital platforms, transcending geographical constraints that typically hinder traditional service providers.