The House of Representatives ratified the First and the Second modifying protocol of the Pacific Alliance agreement, with 91 affirmative and five negative votes. The text introduces modifications to e-commerce, with the purpose of improving regulatory standards among member countries. The protocols will be sent to the Executive Branch.

Main aspects of the protocol:

• Eliminates customs duties on digital products by electronic means. No country may apply customs duties, fees or charges to the import or export by electronic means of digital products.

• No discrimination of digital products. Neither country shall agree on less favorable treatment to digital products created, produced, published, contracted or commissioned in the territory of another one or a non-member one. It also includes digital products whose author, interpreter, producer, manager or owner is a person from a different country than the one that trades other similar digital products.

• Exchange of information about fraudulent business practices. The countries commit themselves to exchange information on suppliers that have been sanctioned for fraudulent and deceptive commercial practices in e-commerce.

• Standardized information to consumers. The information that is provided to consumers in e-commerce should include at least the terms, conditions of use, prices, additional charges and payment methods.

• Personal data protection. The countries must adopt or maintain laws, regulations or administrative measures for the protection of the personal information of users participating in e-commerce.

• Cross-border transfer of information. Each country will allow the cross-border transfer of information by electronic means, including the transfer of personal information, for business reasons.

• Promotes the provision of new services such as data centers and computing in cloud storages with the obligation of computer facilities.

• Self-regulation of the private sector. States recognize the importance of encouraging self-regulation in the private sector through industry guidelines, contract models and behavior codes.