On May 7, 2025, the European Union (EU) and Singapore signed the European Union-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement (EUSDTA) in Brussels. This agreement complements the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement from 2019. It showcases that both the EU and Singapore are willing to strengthen their relationship and create clear rules for digital trade. It also highlights that both the EU and Singapore understand digital trade is key to economic growth.
The main objective of the EUSDTA is to facilitate digital trade in goods and services between the parties in accordance with its provisions. Moreover, it also aims to build an open digital economy and find ways for both sides to work jointly on new digital projects. The parties acknowledge the importance of collaboration to create digital rules and standards. This means ensuring digital systems can work together safely, and that rules for digital trade are fair, clear, and predictable.
The agreement includes rules to deal with cyber threats, which carry the potential to undermine confidence in digital trade. The EUSDTA will aid Singapore and the EU to cooperate to detect and cease hazardous online attacks or the spread of potentially harmful computer codes. Additionally, the EU and Singapore will work together to handle cybersecurity problems from an early stage and share relevant information to raise awareness. Another important goal of this new rule set is to introduce standards for the identification, detection, and protection against cyberattacks, encouraging the use of methods that focus on managing risks.
This approach to cybersecurity reflects the shared interest in protecting this critical infrastructure and ensuring a safe and reliable internet that supports innovation, as well as economic and social development.
