World Trade Organization (WTO) members participating in the joint statement initiative on e-commerce discussed proposals on open access to the Internet, open government data, online consumer protection and paperless trade, in order to achieve “stronger and more intensive convergence” ahead of the next Ministerial Conference, which will take place from 30 November to 3 December 2021.
Australia, Japan and Singapore, co-hosts of the talks, announced that a New “clean” text on four additional topics (open government data, electronic contracts, online consumer protection and e-commerce) will be available by the summer break-June to September-, according to a Press release of the WTO.
To date, participating members have reached two clean texts: unsolicited messages or spam, y Electronic signatures and authenticationIn addition, a new small group on electronic transaction frameworks has been established which will begin work on the basis of proposals submitted by members.
The WTO information details that the last meeting discussed the flow of information. In this regard, the text proposals on cross-border data flows and the location of computing facilities, servers used to store and process information, were reviewed. Text proposals on the location of financial computing facilities for covered financial service providers were also studied.
“Participating members recognise the importance of the free flow of data across borders as a facilitator of business activity and digital trade,” the WTO said.
In this regard, Coordinator Ambassador Hung Seng Tan (Singapore) described the rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape as “one of the fundamental pillars supporting the digital economy” and advocated for having “clear rules in this area”, which “will provide certainty to businesses and encourage digital adoption and innovation”.
Co-Chair Ambassador George Mina (Australia) said the text on data flows is a “key element of e-commerce, as it contributes to more efficient and secure trade and will promote digital trade and economic growth.”
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki (Japan), co-coordinator of the initiative, added that provisions on data flows are key to a high-level and commercially meaningful outcome to the negotiations. At the same time, he encouraged consideration of aspects such as the digital divide and capacity-building needs to achieve an inclusive outcome.
Seventy-one WTO members announced the joint declaration on e-commerce at the Ministerial Conference in December 2017 in Argentina. WTO negotiations on e-commerce issues were launched in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2019, with the participation of 76 members. Currently, 86 members are part of the negotiations.
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