S. Korea eyes digital trade deal with Singapore within the year

South Korea and Singapore kicked off negotiations toward swiftly attaining a digital trade deal and making substantial progress at year's end.

Negotiations between South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee and her Singaporean counterpart, Chan Chun Sing will initially be held via videoconference, with the first official talks is slated for mid-July.

A deal would help lower barriers to digital trade between the two nations, Yoo said.

A digital trade deal includes provisions for non-discriminatory treatment for electronic transactions, easing of barriers on cross-border data flow, and consumer protection.

If South Korea signs a deal with Singapore, it would be the first digital trade deal for Seoul.