WTO Members Discuss Proposals on e-Commerce at Work Program Meeting

World Trade Organization members on Sept. 17 discussed various proposals on the e-commerce work program at the program's first meeting since the 13th Ministerial Conference, the WTO said. Proposals from the least-developed countries (LDC) group, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries group and Cambodia were discussed.

The WTO said the discussion "highlighted the importance of bridging the digital divide and facilitating investment aimed at enhancing access to physical and digital infrastructure, such as electricity and internet broadband."

The LDC group's submission recommended that the WTO "consider setting up a mechanism of information and collaborations with other institutions, specific to LDC participation in e-commerce and aspects that may assist in closing gaps." The LDC nations identified various challenges they face in relation to e-commerce, including access to technology, online market share, the digital and talent gap, infrastructural and supply capacity, and legal and regulatory capacity.

Cambodia echoed the LDC group's concerns, stressing the "urgent need to assist LDCs in strengthening their readiness to engage in and benefit from digital trade." The nation said that the lack of information and communications technology infrastructure and services hampers e-commerce development, along with worse access to financing, legal and regulatory frameworks and payment solutions.

Boosting international cooperation on digital issues is needed, as is work at the WTO to "support efforts towards increasing technical and financial resources to avoid LDCs trailing behind in making digitalization work for development," the submission said.

The ACP submission said a majority of ACP countries lack access to new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, requiring a "conducive environment" to boost e-commerce and "innovative forms of global governance." The nations discussed the current regulatory framework across many ACP nations, ACP e-commerce progress and the bloc's response to the customs duties moratorium on electronic transmissions.