The World Trade Organization (WTO), created in 1995 and comprised of over 130 countries, oversees the rules governing international trade. Click here to view a list of WTO member countries.
The WTO's primary functions are to:
Ensure trade flows smoothly by negotiating trade agreements and settling disputes;
Assist developing countries with their trade policy issues; and
Provide developing countries with trade-related training programs.
BSA supports the launch of a new round of international trade negotiations under the auspices of the WTO. This new round of trade talks will provide an opportunity to further strengthen international trade law, provide a predictable business environment for e-commerce and develop a pro e-commerce agenda.
Recommendations for action in next round of WTO negotiations:
Make permanent and binding the May 20, 1998 Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Commerce and clarify that the exemption from tariffs applies both to the transmissions themselves and to their contents.
Recognize the role of e-commerce in promoting and facilitating international trade and reaffirm that current WTO obligations, rules, disciplines and commitments (namely the GATT, GATS and TRIPS agreements) are technology- neutral and apply to e-commerce.
Refrain from enacting trade-related measures that impede,, actually or potentially, international e-commerce even if enactment of such measures would not otherwise violate existing international legal obligations.
Recognize that where a legitimate policy objective necessitates enactment of national measures affecting e-commerce, countries agree to enact the least trade-restrictive measure possible consistent with existing WTO obligations.
Agree that measures affecting e-commerce must be consistent with the following fundamental principles of international trade law: national treatment/non-discrimination; Most Favored Nation (MFN); transparency; and notification, review and consultation.
Work within GATT, GATS, and TRIPS to identify, reduce or eliminate barriers to international e-commerce.
Direct the General Council of the WTO, in addition to overseeing work on e-commerce in each of the existing Councils, to determine whether additional work is necessary to ensure that WTO disciplines reflect the horizontal nature of e-commerce.
