White Paper Trade Rules and the Digital Economy Key Points and Findings

Huawei | Trade and the Digital Economy | White Paper Key Points and Findings
4 Huawei has much to contribute to this dialogue
Precisely because of our size, the breadth of our activities and the extent of our reach, we at Huawei are
uniquely positioned to offer insights into what rules are likely to contribute towards an optimal trade
regime for the digital economy. In addition to these attributes, we at Huawei are fortunate to count among
our 170,000+ employees, dedicated experts on global trade rules based in Shenzhen as well as in important
regional trade‐policy capitals such as Brussels and Washington DC. We are in a position and at a unique
moment in time where we can provide thought leadership on these important emerging issues.
5 Huawei's interests are broadly aligned with the rest of the global ICT industry
We at Huawei are deeply entrenched in global digital value chains and have long been working closely with
suppliers, partners, customers and other stakeholders in many countries, and across many different
product and services markets within the digital economy. As such, we are undeniably a significant part of
the global ICT industry, and our prospects rise and fall in conjunction with the general welfare of the global
ICT industry as a whole. This means that what’s good for the global ICT industry and for the digital economy
is almost certain to be good for Huawei, and what’s bad for the global ICT industry and the digital economy
in general is likely not going to benefit Huawei either. As the saying goes: “a rising tide lifts all boats” and
this saying is very applicable when it comes to policies, measures and trade rules that have an impact on
trade flows in the digital economy.
6 We all win in a world where the internet is global, open and accessible
Disproportionately restrictive policies enacted for protectionist purposes or without taking into account
the realities of the global internet are likely to create negative externalities both within and beyond the
borders of the authorities that enact them. In the same way, trade rules that promote an open, accessible
and global internet promote the exchange of ideas, grant open access to the latest ideas and innovation
and provide a global public good that benefits the whole ICT industry and all players in the digital economy,
including Huawei.
7 Governments must and will remain the arbiters of the public policy exception
Huawei recognizes and is completely supportive of the very important role governments can and must play
as watchdogs and overseers of the public interest. We also recognize that governments must act when
doing so is required to safeguard legitimate public policy interests. However, like many in the industry, and
as governments have recognized in fora like APEC, the OECD and the G20, the invocation of public policy
exceptions should be done in good faith and subject to certain agreed limiting principles, such as
proportionality, least‐trade restrictiveness of measures, and the effectiveness of any measures taken in
achieving the purported public policy objectives for which they were imposed
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