The US has secured the formal support of Japan in its attempt to make the internet tax-free. Japan has now signed an agreement already inked by members of the European Union that declares the internet a tariff-free zone. Canada, and Australia are believed to be very close to signing (CI No 3,400) the agreement, which was drafted at the World Trade Organization. The deal was struck at the meeting of the G8 countries in Birmingham, UK. The agreement came after more conciliatory words from President Clinton about the Japanese economy and the government’s attempts to combat the current crisis. The US apparently sees the deal as one example of Japan making an attempt to regulate its economy. Another internet hot potato, crime, was being dealt with over the weekend. Delegates were due to hear from chief constable Roy Penrose director-general of Britain’s National Crime Squad about various kinds of electronic crime and ways to combat it.
