Representatives from various countries participating in the joint initiative on e-commerce at the WTO have reached an important milestone in negotiations, as indicated by the recent progress made during the second round of talks held from 11 to 14 March.
Jeremy Green, Deputy Permanent Representative to the WTO, speaking on behalf of Ambassador James Baxter of Australia, highlighted key advancements in the negotiation text. He emphasized that articles covering electronic payments, development issues, and information and communications technology products using cryptography have been included in the Chair’s text for the first time. This development is seen as a significant step towards achieving consensus.
Co-convenors of the talks, including Australia, Japan, and Singapore, expressed satisfaction with the progress made and urged for continued momentum to conclude the agreement in the coming weeks. Ambassador Hung Seng Tan of Singapore stressed the importance of flexibility and compromise among members to achieve the overarching goal of revitalizing the multilateral trading system.
During the negotiation round, discussions centered on various aspects of the agreement, including definitions, institutional provisions, scope, and customs duties. Additionally, attention was given to recently added provisions on cryptography, development, and e-payments.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Atsuyuki Oike of Japan outlined future milestones, including plans for the final “technical discussion” of the negotiating text in April. Subsequently, the final version of the Chair’s text will be circulated among members for domestic clearance and further engagement at senior levels to finalize the agreement.
The co-convenors see the recent progress as a significant step towards concluding the agreement, with the potential for finalization by the summer.
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