Joint US-Ireland Communiqué on Electronic Commerce

Citation
Joint US-Ireland Communiqué on Electronic Commerce (Sept. 4, 1998).

Overview
This document presents the text of a joint statement made by U.S. President Bill Clinton and the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, which deals with electronic commerce.

The Communiqué sets down the following common principles which the two Governments intend will underlie the development of electronic commerce in the future:


 * the key role of industry in developing electronic commerce
 * that the role of government is to provide a clear legal framework, to promote a pro-competitive environment and to ensure adequate protection of public interest objectives such as privacy, intellectual property rights, and consumer protection
 * that taxes on e-commerce should be consistent and non-discriminatory;
 * that it is important to enhance the awareness and confidence of citizens and SME's in electronic commerce.