Electronic commerce

back to top

News 

back to top

Background

The Declaration instructed the General Council to establish a comprehensive work programme to examine all trade-related issues relating to global electronic commerce, including issues identified by Members. Ministers also declared that Members will continue their practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions (“moratorium” on customs duties). The Secretariat issued a Note to assist Members in their deliberations on trade-related issues pertaining to global electronic commerce pursuant to the Ministerial Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce.

 

back to top

Work Programme on Electronic Commerce

 In September 1998, the General Council adopted the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce.

Definition of electronic commerce: The Work Programme on Electronic Commerce states that: “Exclusively for the purposes of the work programme, and without prejudice to its outcome, the term ‘electronic commerce’' is understood to mean the production, distribution, marketing, sale or delivery of goods and services by electronic means”. Four WTO bodies were charged with the responsibility of carrying out the Work Programme: the Council for Trade in Services; the Council for Trade in Goods; the Council for TRIPS; and the Committee on Trade and Development. The General Council plays a central role and keeps the work programme under continuous review.

 

back to top

Work in the respective bodies

The Work Programme on Electronic Commerce instructed:

• the Council for Trade in Services to examine and report on the treatment of electronic commerce in the GATS legal framework;
  > Background Note by the Secretariat (Services)
  > Progress Report of the Services Council

• the Council for Trade in Goods to examine and report on aspects of electronic commerce relevant to the provisions of GATT 1994, the multilateral trade agreements covered under Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement, and the approved work programme;
  > CTG interim review of progress

• the Council for TRIPS to examine and report on the intellectual property issues arising in connection with electronic commerce;
  > TRIPS Council Reports to the General Council
  > Secretariat Background Note

• the Committee on Trade and Development to examine and report on the development implications of electronic commerce, taking into account the economic, financial and development needs of developing countries.
  > Note on the Development Implications of Electronic Commerce

 

back to top

Work in the General Council

Since May 2001, the General Council's examination of cross-cutting issues under the Work Programme has been carried out in dedicated discussions held for this purpose. The first Dedicated Discussion was held on 15 June 2001 under the auspices of the General Council. Following that meeting, the Secretariat circulated a summary of the issues raised and a list of cross-cutting issues identified by delegations. The twelfth and most recent Dedicated Discussion was held on 18 October 2016. Since then, discussions have continued in informal open-ended meetings convened by the General Council Chair and through the review of progress in the General Council.

Work Programme on Electronic Commerce — Review of Progress  :

• July 2019 report to the General Council
• December 2018 report to the General Council
• December 2017 report to the General Council
• December 2016 report to the General Council
• July 2016 report to the General Council
• July 2015 Report to the General Council
• December 2014 Report to the General Council
• Reports on Dedicated Discussions held to date

 

back to top

Ministerial Decisions on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce

Ministers have considered the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce at their Ministerial Conferences in Geneva 1998; Doha 2001; Hong Kong 2005; Geneva in 2009; Geneva 2011; Bali 2013; Nairobi 2015; and Buenos Aires 2017. At those Conferences, Ministers have taken note of the reports on electronic commerce and have instructed the General Council and its relevant subsidiary bodies to continue their work on e-commerce. Ministers have also agreed to continue the practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until their next session. At the General Council in December 2019, Members decided to continue the Work Programme and Moratorium until the 12th Ministerial Conference.

• General Council Decision 2019

• Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference 2017

• Nairobi Ministerial Conference 2015

• Bali Ministerial Conference 2013

• Geneva Ministerial Declaration 2011

• Geneva Ministerial Declaration 2009

• Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration 2005

• Doha Ministerial Declaration 2001

• Geneva Ministerial Declaration 1998