WTO Ministerial Decision Extends Duty Moratorium on Data Transmissions to 2019
World Trade Organization members in Buenos Aires this week issued a ministerial decision extending for another two years the moratorium on customs duties on data transmissions, the WTO announced during the 11th Ministerial Conference (MC11) that saw few other concrete decisions. The moratorium will continue until at least the next session of the WTO Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, in 2019, the decision says. Additionally, 43 WTO members announced they will initiate “exploratory work” toward more substantive future e-commerce negotiations. The group will hold its first meeting in the first quarter of 2018. Participation in the talks will be open to all WTO members “without prejudice to participants’ positions on future negotiations,” the statement says. “We recognize the particular opportunities and challenges faced by developing countries, especially [least developed countries], as well as by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, in relation to electronic commerce.”
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The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and Express Association of America (EAA) were among the groups that applauded the e-commerce developments of MC11. "E-commerce protectionism would be very harmful to consumers and will only serve to isolate countries from this fast-growing technological revolution, so this was a very sensible decision," NFTC President Rufus Yerxa said in a statement. The WTO can fill a key role in ensuring e-commerce success by defining best practices to promote fair and competitive environments, EAA Director Michael Mullen said in a statement. “The express industry has extensive experience with e-commerce and hopes the WTO will reach out to private sector stakeholders to assist in the development of policies that foster e-commerce enabled trade.”
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of Mullen's statement.