The EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement — the EU's first standalone digital trade deal — entered into force on February 1, 2026. The agreement establishes rules for cross-border data flows, electronic contracts, digital authentication, consumer protection in e-commerce, and the prohibition of forced data localisation requirements.
The DTA builds on the existing EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement but goes significantly further on digital provisions. It is designed to serve as a template for future EU digital trade agreements with other partners, reflecting Brussels' ambition to shape global rules for the digital economy alongside its traditional role in goods and services trade.
For European businesses, the agreement reduces barriers to digital services exports and provides greater legal certainty when operating in Singapore's market. For Singapore, it deepens access to the EU's 450-million-consumer single market. The deal is seen as particularly relevant for fintech, e-commerce, and cloud services providers on both sides.