Scope of e-commerce talks another divisive issue for U.S., EU

A U.S. push to ensure plurilateral talks on e-commerce rules cover provisions like those in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is proving problematic for the European Union, which does not have the authority to negotiate as broadly as the U.S. would like, according to sources following the talks. At the heart of the issue is the inclusion of audiovisual services, which is highly sensitive for the EU. The Lisbon Treaty – the constitutional basis for the EU – expressly protects Europe’s audiovisual...