Login

Register




Building capacity to help Africa trade better

MC11: Draft Ministerial Decision on Electronic Commerce submitted by the African Group

News

MC11: Draft Ministerial Decision on Electronic Commerce submitted by the African Group

MC11: Draft Ministerial Decision on Electronic Commerce submitted by the African Group
Photo credit: Mobisol

Communication from the African Group on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, submitted to the WTO General Council ahead of the upcoming 11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Draft Ministerial Decision on Electronic Commerce

Ministers,

Recognizing that global electronic commerce is growing rapidly and creating an alternative means for trade;

Committed to addressing the uneven spread of global electronic commerce and risk of disruptive impacts;

Committed to overcoming the digital and technological divide underlying digital trade and electronic commerce;

Recognizing that diverse national measures are necessary to build national capabilities, with a view to promote inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth;

Recognizing the need to clarify the treatment of electronic commerce in relevant WTO Agreements, and the broad interest of Members to continue examining all trade-related issues relating to global electronic commerce;

Resolved to ensuring access to the Internet to more than half of the world’s population who remain offline;

Taking particular account of the economic, financial, and development needs of developing countries;

Recognizing the valuable work being undertaken in other multilateral and international fora;

Decide:

  1. To continue the work under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce since our last session, based on the existing mandate and guidelines, in the relevant WTO bodies as set out in paragraphs 2 to 5 of the Work Programme.

  2. To address all open issues in the relevant bodies, as provided for in paragraphs 2 to 5 of the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, including but not limited to definition, classification and technological neutrality.

  3. To discuss, in the relevant bodies, the manner in which Members can preserve their right to regulate electronic commerce and consideration of all measures to promote national digital industrial development with a view to promoting inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth.

  4. To undertake, in the relevant bodies, a thorough examination of the opportunities and risks associated with digital transformation and electronic commerce.

  5. To discuss, in the relevant bodies, measures Members have taken and may take to develop their national institutional regulatory capacity that ensure: the protection of information of all Members and their citizens, including but not limited to mandatory disclosure of data; the disclosure of source codes; access to, and transfer of technology.

  6. To continue, in the relevant bodies, the practice of national experience sharing of inter alia: the historical development of the digital industry; the challenges and measures adopted to promote digital economy and electronic commerce.

  7. To instruct the General Council to hold periodic reviews in its sessions of July and December 2018 and July 2019 based on the reports that may be submitted by the WTO bodies entrusted with the implementation of the Work Programme and report to the next session of the Ministerial Conference.

On the moratorium, the African Group is still discussing it in view of the revenue implications of the current moratorium on customs duties, particularly in the context of increasing digitization of goods and services. For these reasons, the renewal of the moratorium should not be seen as automatic.

Contact

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel +27 21 880 2010