Digital Trade for Post-COVID Recovery and Resilience in the Commonwealth

On the one hand, the pandemic has accelerated the scope of a digital-led recovery; on the other, the existing digital divide across countries has been exacerbated by a sudden and increased reliance on digital technologies. This paper aims to deepen the understanding of the contribution digital trade can make in supporting a post-COVID economic recovery in the Commonwealth, and to situate this within the context of the diversity of challenges involved in growing digital trade and expanding the digital economy in Commonwealth countries. Analyses are presented for (i) trade in information and communications technology (ICT) and digital goods; (ii) trade in ICT and ICT-enabled services; and (iii) e-commerce.