ONGOING PROJECTS
Digital economy agreement leadership (DEAL) depository
The Digital Economy Agreement Leadership (DEAL) Depository is a joint research initiative that maps and analyses Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) and related digital trade frameworks. It focuses on ASEAN countries to support the ongoing negotiations of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). The project is led by the University of Lucerne and the Digital Trade Integration (DTI) project at the EUI, with support from the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund.
Read more info about the project – Explore the depository.
Improving competitiveness and regulatory environment for the digital economy
The project seeks to support certain developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in better understanding the role of regulation in the digital economy by identifying regulatory gaps, assessing economic impacts, and offering policy recommendations to support digital transformation and the benefits of digitalisation. Improving competitiveness and the regulatory environment for the digital economy.
GRID-AFRICA – Governance, resilience, infrastructure, and digital transition in Africa
GRID-AFRICA establishes an interdisciplinary network of scholars to advance comparative research on Africa’s digital transformation, exploring how digital infrastructure, critical minerals, and governance frameworks shape Africa’s position in the global digital economy. Through joint workshops, a webinar series, and collaborative research, the project enhances methodological capacities across the EUI and six Widening partners, yielding policy-relevant insights and laying the groundwork for a competitive Horizon Europe proposal
DATASETS
Ferracane, M. F., González Ugarte, S., and Rogaler, T. (2026). “Data localisation regulations (2000-2024)”, EUI. Download the dataset.
Ferracane, M.F., González Ugarte, S., and Rogaler, T. (Eds.), (2025). “Digital Trade Integration Dataset (2022-2023)”, EUI. Download the dataset.
Ferracane, M. F., González Ugarte, S., and Rogaler, T. (2025). “Rwanda and Uganda: DTI dataset (2024) and DTI Index (2005–2024)”, EUI. Download the dataset.
PAPERS and WORKING PAPERS
Ferracane, M. F., González Ugarte, S., and Rogaler, T. (2025). “Global trends in digital trade policies and practices: Evidence from the Digital Trade Integration Database”, World Trade Review. Read the paper.
Ferracane, M.F., González Ugarte, S., and Van der Marel, E. (2025), “The Brussels effect in Africa: Is it beneficial for intra-regional trade in digital services?”, Journal of International Economic Law. Read the paper.
Ferracane, M.F., Hoekman, B., van der Marel, E., & Santi, F. (2025). “Digital trade, data protection and the EU adequacy club”, Economica. Advance online publication. Read the paper.
Ferracane, M.F., Hoekman, B., Shepard, B., & Shingal, A. (2025). “International regulatory cooperation and services trade : Argentina and Uruguay adequacy decisions on data protection”, EUI, RSC, Working Paper, 2025/47, Global Governance Programme. Read the paper.
Ferracane, M.F., and González Ugarte, S. (2024), “Data Localisation: Global Trends”, EUI, RSC, Working Paper, 2024/21. Read the paper.
Ferracane, M.F. (2022), “The Digital Trade Integration database: description of pillars and indicators”, EUI, RSC, Working Papers, 2022/70, Global Governance Programme. Read the paper.
Ferracane, M.F. (2022), “Digital trade integration: global trends”, TEPSA, EUI, RSC, Policy Brief, Global Governance Programme. Read the paper.
Ferracane, M.F. (2022), “Data governance models and geopolitics: insights from the Indo-Pacific region”, Policy Briefs, 2022/48, Global Governance Programme [Global Economics]. Read the policy brief.
D. Elms, N. Agnew (2022), “Digital trade in Asia”, EUI RSC, 2022/51, Global Governance Programme-474 [Global Economics]. Read the policy brief.
C. Zebaze-Djiofack, P. Niyibizi (2022), “Rwanda Economic Update: Boosting Exports Through Technology, Innovation, and Trade in Services”, World Bank. Read the paper.
REPORTS
Rogaler, T. (2026), “Mapping Digital Trade Regulations in Central Europe: Regional Trends and the Czech Case”, Institute of International Relations (IIR), Prague. Read the policy paper.
Ferracane, M.F., and Rogaler, T. (2025), “Digital trade: An assessment of regulations and practices in Rwanda and Uganda”, IGC, Project Report, 8 August, London. Download the report.
Ferracane, M.F., Fredes, A., Rogaler, T., and Mulder, N. (2024), “The digital trade policy environment in Latin America and the Caribbean”, UN-ECLAC, Santiago de Chile. Download the report.
UN-ESCAP, UN-ECA, UN-ECLAC (2024), “Digital Trade Regulatory Review for Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean”, June 2024. Bangkok: UN-ESCAP. Download the report.
Ferracane, M.F. and E. Van Der Marel (2023), “Digital Trade’s Regulatory Environment: Opportunities for regulatory harmonisation in Africa”, UN-ECA, Addis Abeba. Download the report.
UN-ESCAP, OECD (2022), “Asia-Pacific Digital Trade Regulatory Review 2022”, UN-ESCAP, OECD. Download the report.
ONLINE COURSES
Introduction to digital trade regulation: Domestic policies, international agreements, and digitalisation of trade processes through blockchain
Delivered from October 20 to November 9, 2025, this interdisciplinary course was designed for policymakers, researchers, and business representatives who sought to develop a critical understanding of digital trade regulation worldwide. Organised in collaboration with, and sponsored by, UN-ESCAP and UN-ECLAC, it comprised four weekly modules (30 hours in total) and examined how domestic regulatory frameworks and international agreements shape digital trade, including the digitalisation of trade processes through technologies such as blockchain.
Read more info about the course
ITU Course on Digital Trade Regulation
Delivered from June 16, 2025, to July 13, 2025, this interdisciplinary course was designed for policymakers and regulators seeking to develop a critical understanding of digital trade regulation worldwide. Delivered as a four-week, online instructor-led programme (28 hours in total), it examined how the rapid expansion of digital trade in digital goods, online services, investment in digital-economy sectors, and data flows was reshaping economies and societies, and how regulatory frameworks were struggling to keep pace. The course introduced the core concepts of digital trade and related regulations, explored the challenges of applying traditional trade policies to digital trade, and analysed the implications of regulatory choices for economic outcomes, privacy and security, including in the context of recent trade agreement negotiations. With the support of the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, participation was offered free of charge to selected applicants, with a particular focus on government officials from developing countries and women policymakers.
Introduction to digital trade regulations in Asia and Latin America
Delivered from 16 October to 26 November 2023, this interdisciplinary online course was organised by UN-ECLAC, UN-ESCAP and the European University Institute, with the support of a FEALAC project, for policymakers, researchers and other professionals seeking to develop a critical understanding of global digital trade regulations. It examined how the rise of digital trade in digital goods and online services, foreign direct investment in digitally relevant sectors, and cross-border data flows is reshaping economies, and how emerging technologies such as 3D printing, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and autonomous driving are transforming business models and public policy debates. The course introduced the concept of digital trade and its regulations, highlighted the challenges of applying “offline” rules to the online world while addressing concerns such as security, privacy and consumer protection, and underscored the importance of informed policymaking, including in the context of recent trade agreement negotiations.
OP-ED, BLOG POSTS & OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Ferracane, M.F., and Rogaler, T. (2025), “An assessment of digital trade regulations in Rwanda and Uganda”, IGC, September 2025. Read the blog.
UN-ECA (2023), “Africa’s Digital Trade Regulatory Framework: Unlocking Africa’s Digital Potential”, UN-ECA. Download the infographic.
Ferracane, M.F., B. Hoekman, F. Santi, E. and Van der Marel (2023), “The trade effects of EU adequacy decisions”, Vox EU, July 2023. Read the blog.
Civica Research (2023), “An online tool to extricate the web of digital trade regulation”, Civica. Read the blog.
Nigel Cory (2023), “Unlocking EU Global Digital Trade: New Study Shows the US’s Key Role in EU Data Adequacy Determinations”, Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF). Read the blog.
Seminars, Presentations, and Webinars
DTI project presentations
- DPLST-LAC-ABRI Conference 2025, International Studies Association (ISA), Sao Paulo. Info is available here.
- Italian Society of Law and Economics (SIDE) Conference, December 2024. Info is available here.
- AfrEcon 2024 conference, IDOS, Bonn, December 2024. Info is available here.
- 2024 Women’s Academy, Huawei, Zagreb, November 2024. Info is available here.
- International Political Economy Society (IPES) Conference, November 2024. Info is available here.
- Regional Policy Forum on “Political, Economic, and Institutional Structure of Data Policy and Governance in Africa, AERC, October 2024. Info is available here.
- Services trade and priorities for future negotiations, roundtable organised by Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy and the Resolution Foundation, London, October 2024. Info is available here.
- Empirical investigations in services trade (EIST) conference, OCED, Paris, October 2024. Info is available here.
- European Trade Study Group (ETSG) conference, University of Athens, Athens, September 2024. Info is available here.
- World Public Forum, September 2024. Info is available here.
- The approach of financial services regulators to an evolving trade policy landscape, Bank of England, online, July 2024. Info is available here.
- Mapping and governing the online world, ETC Zurich & NYU, Ascona, July 2024. Info is available here.
- Global Review of Aid for Trade, WTO, Geneva, June 2024. Info is available here.
- Symposium on Digital Trade, Bank of Italy, Rome, June 2024. Info is available here.
- State of the Union, EUI, Florence, May 2024. Info is available here.
- Digital trade conference, International Chambers of Conference, April 2024. Info is available here.
- 19th annual conference of The Italian Society of Law and Economics (SIDE), University of Brescia, December 2023. Info available here.
- UNCTAD e-week, Geneva, December 2023. Info available here.
- World Trade Forum, EUI, Florence, October 2023. Info is available here.
- “Digital Trade: Building a Competitive Regulatory Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean”, UN-ECLAC, September 2023. Info is available here.
- WTO Public Forum 2023, WTO, Geneva, September 2023. Info is available here.
- Economic Growth Forum, IGC, Kampala, August 2023. Info is available here.
- USITC 2023 Digital Trade Workshop, USITC, June 2023. Info is available here.
- Trade Law 4.0, Washington DC, Georgetown University, May 2023. Info available here.
- What Trade Policy and Aid for Trade Support for Cambodia after LDC Graduation?, UNCTAD, Phnom Penh, March 2023. Info available here.
- Social Sciences Universities Network (SSUN) 2023 Conference, FGV, Rio de Janeiro, March 2023. Info available here.
- Regional consultation on LDC5 for LDCs in Africa and Haiti, UN-OHRLLS, Addis-Abeba, January 2023. Info available here.
- “Digital Trade Integration: a new global dataset for 21st-century trade policy”, London School of Economics, November 2022. Info is available here.
- “Implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”, EUI, November 2022. Info is available here.
- WTO Public Forum 2022, WTO, Geneva, September 2022. Info is available here.
- World Trade Forum, WTI, Bern, September 2022. Info is available here.
- Fourth Biennial Conference “Empirical Investigations in Services Trade” EIST 2022, TED University Trade Research Center, Ankara, June 2022. Info is available here.
- State of the Union, Panel session on “Building resilience: digital trade and the digital transition”, EUI, Florence, May 2022. Info and registrations here. The recording is available here.
- Workshop on Services trade policies and structural transformation, 17 December 2021. Info and registrations here. The recording is available here.
- IGF 2021 Event #62 Mapping and measuring digital trade integration, 10 December 2021. Info and registrations here. Recording available here (and below).
Webinar series
- DTI Webinar Series – Webinar #6 – Digital Trade Integration: Priorities for Africa, 9 March 2022. Info and registrations here. The recording is available here.
- DTI Webinar Series – Webinar #5 – Trade Secrets Regulation: when do policy measures become a trade restriction?, 21 February 2022. Info and registrations here. The recording is available here.
- DTI Webinar Series – Webinar #4 – Patent regulation: When do policy measures become a trade restriction?, 21 February 2022. Info and registrations here. The recording is available here.
- DTI Webinar Series – Webinar #3 – Copyright Regulation, 7 February 2022. Info and registrations here. The recording is available here.
- DTI Webinar Series – Webinar #2 – Cross-border data policies: When do policy measures become a trade restriction?, 15 December 2021. Info and registrations here. The recording is available here.
- DTI Webinar Series – Webinar #1 – FDI screening: When do policy measures become a trade restriction?, 22 November 2021. Info and registrations here.