E-commerce agreement expected to move forward on an interim basis at WTO Ministerial

Signatories to the E-Commerce Agreement, negotiated under the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI), are planning to implement the deal on an interim basis, in spite of continued opposition. At least 70 of the 72 countries that that endorsed the agreement are expected to sign a declaration to that effect at the next WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé. The move comes as JSI members seek to advance the agreement despite the lack of consensus among the full WTO membership for its incorporation into the Organization’s Annex 4, a step that would require the support of all WTO members. The interim arrangement would take the form of a legally binding treaty among signatories, expiring once formal integration into the WTO framework is achieved.

The E-commerce Agreement, finalised in July 2024, including provisions on trade facilitation (e-signatures, paperless trade, single window), personal data protection, and a commitment to refrain from imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions. The latter clause would ensure the continuation of duty-free e-commerce among signatories regardless of the outcome of the broader WTO moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions.