Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have reached a “clean” negotiating text on the issue of electronic signatures and authentication, in the meeting held on Tuesday (20.04.2021), within the framework of agreements to facilitate digital trade and take advantage of existing WTO conventions and frameworks.
The completion of the joint declaration process aimed at facilitating e-commerce is expected to play a key role in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
The clean text on electronic signatures and authentication seeks to ensure their validity or legal effect when used in an online transaction.
In this regard, the facilitator of the small discussion group on this topic, Gintare Kemekliene (European Union), reported that the clean text It is the result of the hard work and flexibility of the members, and is derived from 11 proposals presented by them at the beginning of the process.
Ten clean texts on various issues are due before the summer break, according to the deadlines set for this year by the co-organizers. This represents substantial progress for the the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), which will take place from November 30 to December 3, 2021 in GenevaThe text on electronic signatures and authentication will be part of the outcome that the e-commerce initiative seeks to achieve for MC12.
Ambassador George Mina (Australia), as co-coordinator, praised members for reaching a stable and clean text on electronic signatures and authentication. He said: It is a fundamental element, since it contributes to a more efficient and secure electronic commerce that will promote digital transactions and economic growth.. The ability to avoid printing, mailing, signature submission and physical authentication when the rest of the transaction is done in the online environment is a massive boost to efficiency and productivity, he added.
It is worth noting that earlier this year, members had finalized a clear text in unsolicited commercial messages, also known as spam.
Addressing the discussion on telecommunications services, Ambassador Hung Seng Tan (Singapore), one of the coordinators, said that “telecommunications issues are of wide scope and interest to all members. Having clear rules in this area will provide certainty to businesses and encourage digital adoption and innovation.”
Ambassador Tan added that It is opportune for participating members to consider how to reduce the digital divide so that the e-commerce initiative can be useful in boosting the economic growth of all members..
Negotiation meetings took place in early February, including in plenary discussions, focus groups and small groups. Members focused on six themes: enabling e-commerce, openness and e-commerce, trust and e-commerce, market access, telecommunications and cross-cutting issues. They discussed, in small groups, market access, paperless trade, online consumer protection and open government data. Facilitators reported encouraging progress in streamlining the negotiating text in these small groups.
The WTO launched negotiations on aspects of e-commerce in January 2019, with 76 members participating. There are now 86 participants, representing more than 90% of world trade, all major geographical regions and levels of development.
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