E-commerce
Negotiations Maintain Positive Momentum, Focus on Key Issues
·
Shared updates on progress in
the work to bridge the differences on text proposals in areas such as cryptography,
source code, privacy, “single windows” and telecommunications.
·
Ambassador Yamazaki stressed
the importance of data flows in the digital economy and urged members to create
a sense of commonality that can address the different interests, concerns and circumstance
of members.
·
Substantial conclusions by the
end of this year
Participants in the negotiations on e-commerce
discussed key issues such as data flow, data localisation and development at their
22-25 May meetings. The co-convenors (Australia, Japan and Singapore) urged members
to step up the work of the small groups between now and the summer break in order
to achieve as much convergence as possible.
In his opening
remarks, Ambassador George Mina encouraged WTO members to lift the rate of progress
in the work of the small groups so that more articles can be “parked”. He underlined
the importance of the e-commerce negotiations for the future of rulemaking and the
digital economy.
The facilitators
of small group discussions shared updates on progress in the work to bridge the
differences on text proposals in areas such as cryptography, source code, privacy,
“single windows” and telecommunications.
A new small
group on data flows and data localisation started looking at text proposals on areas
such as development and the digital inclusion of indigenous people.
An information
session on data flows and data localisation was held to share the perspective of
private sector representatives from Latin America and Africa on the impact of data
localization measures on these regions' integration into global markets and their
ability to innovate and improve products and services. Another information session
was held on e-payments.
Participants
shared information on their technical assistance and capacity building programmes
in support of efforts to develop e-commerce.
Ambassador
Kazuyuki Yamazaki urged members to achieve as much convergence as possible in the
small groups before the summer break and asked members to show the necessary flexibility.
A number of
members said that engagement by senior officials before the summer break could help
build on the momentum achieved so far by the negotiators.
Ambassador
Yamazaki stressed the importance of data flows in the digital economy and urged
members to create a sense of commonality that can address the different interests,
concerns and circumstance of members.
On the development
aspect of the negotiations, Ambassador Yamazaki said: “We are seeking a balanced
and inclusive outcome.” He noted that members should consider how they could achieve
outcomes that are beneficial to both developing and developed members so that all
participating members can benefit from e-commerce in an exclusive manner.
Ambassador
Hung Seng Tan of Singapore, co-convenor of the initiative and chair of the 2023
plenary meetings, reminded participants that five clusters of meetings remain between
now and the end of the year. He said: “Time is not on our side. The runway is short;
hence I would urge every delegation to reflect seriously on how we can collectively
contribute to achieving our targets of securing substantial conclusions by the end
of this year and having an ambitious and meaningful outcome in a timely manner.”