E  l  e  c  t  r  o  n  i  c     c  o  m  m  e  r  c  e  —
the use of the Internet for business transactions — is on the increase worldwide. A recent survey issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce, " The Emerging Digital Economy," reports that while businesses have been using the Internet for dealing with other businesses for only about two years, the practice has already led to significant productivity improvements, and informational technologies "can be expected to drive...economic growth for years to come."
      By the year 2002, the report predicts, the Internet will be used for more than $300 billion [thousand million] worth of commerce between businesses. In addition, the Internet offers a convenient way to buy, sell, and deliver to the consumer goods and services that can take an electronic form — software, newspapers, music recordings, airline tickets, securities. Of course, consumers can also use the Internet to order such tangible goods as computers, cars, and books.
      In July, 1997, in an effort to further this natural growth and develop some basic international understandings on the subject, the Clinton administration announced what it calls a framework, or set of principles, for global electronic commerce.
      "If we establish an environment in which electronic commerce can grow and flourish," President Clinton said at the time, "then every computer will be a window open to every business, large and small, everywhere in the world." But, the president added, "We know electronic commerce also carries a significant number of risks that could block the extraordinary growth and progress from taking place. There are almost no international understandings or agreements about electronic commerce."
      "Because the Internet has such explosive potential for prosperity," Clinton explained, "it should be a global free-trade zone.... We want to encourage the private sector to regulate itself as much as possible. We want to encourage all nations to refrain from imposing discriminatory taxes, tariffs, unnecessary regulations, [and] cumbersome bureaucracies on electronic commerce. Where government involvement is necessary, its aim should be to support a predictable, consistent, legal environment for trade and commerce to flourish on fair and understandable terms."