Nine Sectors Covered by DEFA Include E‑Commerce, Data Flow and Cybersecurity

Finalised in Manila in May, the DEFA spans nine key digital domains: cross‑border e‑commerce, digital payments and e‑invoicing, digital identity, trans‑national data movement and protection, online safety, cyber‑security, and emerging technologies. The agreement is designed to create a region‑wide structure for digital trade and services, though integrating it into the existing ASEAN‑India goods trade pact could raise complex issues such as data governance, privacy, competition and online regulation.