1. Thematic Session Held: The WTO Information Technology Agreement
(ITA) Committee held a thematic session on 23 June 2026 focusing on
how the ITA can support
access to AI-enabling technologies, especially in developing countries and Least-Developed
Countries (LDCs).
2. Objective: The
session aimed to highlight how eliminating tariffs on ICT hardware under the
ITA:
o Reduces costs.
o Accelerates deployment of AI technologies.
o Encourages investment in digital
infrastructure.
3. Co-hosts: The
thematic session was jointly hosted by:
o Thailand
o China
4. Chair's Remarks: Andrei Rusu (Romania),
Chair of the ITA Committee, said the discussions improved members'
understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with AI
development within the ITA framework.
5. Importance of Trade Openness:
Experts from:
o University of International Business and
Economics (China)
o Big Data Institute (Thailand)
stressed that trade liberalisation through
the ITA helps:
o Bridge the global AI infrastructure gap.
o Lower the cost of high-performance
hardware such as chips and servers.
o Strengthen national AI capabilities and
digital ecosystems.
6. Private Sector Perspective:
Representatives from:
o eCourier
Limited (Bangladesh)
o INMO Technology (China)
highlighted:
o The importance of affordable hardware for
AI capacity building.
o Challenges such as high tariffs and
inadequate digital infrastructure.
o The role of the ITA and the WTO in
supporting inclusive digital transformation.
7. Role of International Standards: The International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) emphasised that international standards are essential for
ensuring global interoperability of AI and digital technologies.
8. Future Recommendations:
Speakers encouraged the ITA Committee to:
o Expand the list of products covered under
the ITA.
o Improve coordination with other WTO
bodies.
o Support developing countries and LDCs in
bridging the digital infrastructure gap.
9. Second Thematic Session: This
was the second thematic
session organised by the ITA Committee.
10. Vietnam to Join ITA II: Vietnam formally
expressed its intention to join the Expansion
of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA II).
·
A note verbale was
submitted to the WTO in April
2026.
·
A
national workshop is scheduled in Hanoi
in July 2026 to facilitate the accession process.
11. Reason for Vietnam's Decision:
Vietnam cited its growing role as a regional
hub for electronics and high-tech manufacturing and exports,
making deeper engagement in the ITA beneficial.
12. Concern Over Egypt's Duties:
Several ITA members reiterated concerns over Egypt's additional 10% import duties on mobile phones.
Egypt stated that the issue remains under review by its national authorities.
13. Non-Tariff Barriers Discussed:
Members also discussed:
·
Identification
of major non-tariff
barriers affecting trade in ITA products.
·
Resolving
long-standing classification
divergences related to "Attachment
B" products that receive duty-free treatment.
14. Next Meeting: The
next formal meeting of the ITA Committee is tentatively scheduled for 19 November 2026.
·
Organisation: World
Trade Organization (WTO)
·
Committee:
Information Technology Agreement (ITA) Committee
·
Date
of Session: 23 June 2026
·
Theme:
AI-enabling technologies and digital infrastructure
·
Focus:
Eliminating tariffs on ICT hardware (chips, servers, etc.)
·
Target
Beneficiaries: Developing countries and Least-Developed
Countries (LDCs)
·
Co-hosts:
Thailand and China
·
Committee
Chair: Andrei Rusu (Romania)
·
International
Organisation Highlighted: International
Telecommunication Union (ITU)
·
Key
Development: Vietnam announced its intention to join ITA II (Expansion of the Information
Technology Agreement)
·
Issue
Raised: Egypt's additional 10% import duty on cell phones
·
Next
ITA Committee Meeting: 19 November 2026.
[ABS News Service/26.06.2026]
The
Information Technology Agreement (ITA) Committee on 23 June held a thematic session
featuring presentations from public and private sector experts on how the ITA can
be harnessed to enhance access to AI-enabling technologies, particularly for developing
economies and least-developed countries (LDCs). The session aimed to enhance awareness
of AI's high dependence on information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure,
and how eliminating tariffs on hardware - such as chips and servers - under the
ITA helps reduce costs, accelerates the deployment of frontier technologies and
stimulates inward investment in this sector.
The
thematic session, co-hosted by Thailand and China, brought together representatives
from government, industry and academia to exchange views and practical experiences.
The Chair of the ITA Committee, Mr Andrei Rusu (Romania), said the exchange helped
members better understand the opportunities and challenges associated with AI development
and adoption within the scope of the work of the ITA Committee.
Experts
from the University of International Business and Economics (China) and the Big
Data Institute (Thailand) emphasized that trade openness through the ITA is vital
for bridging the global AI infrastructure gap, helping to lower costs for the high-performance
hardware necessary for national AI deployment and for the digital services ecosystem.
Representatives
from eCourier Limited (Bangladesh) and INMO Technology
(China) provided private sector views on the importance of hardware for capacity
building in developing economies. They also noted several obstacles to AI readiness,
such as high tariffs and infrastructure deficiencies, noting the important role
of the ITA and the WTO in eliminating trade barriers to support inclusive digital
transformation.
The
presentation from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) emphasized the
critical role of international standards in ensuring global interoperability.
Several
speakers also encouraged the ITA Committee to explore expanding product coverage
in the ITA, enhance synergy among other WTO bodies, and discuss how to support developing
economies and LDCs to bridge the digital infrastructure gap.
The
thematic session was the second organized by the ITA Committee.
Committee meeting
At
the Committee's meeting on the same day, Viet Nam formally expressed its intention
to join the Expansion of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA II). Viet Nam
submitted a note verbale on the matter to the WTO in early April. A national workshop
is scheduled in Hanoi in July to facilitate the process.
Viet
Nam's representative highlighted that as the country increasingly becomes an important
regional hub for electronics and high-tech manufacturing and export, it recognizes
the benefits of deeper engagement in the ITA framework. Several members took the
floor to welcome Viet Nam's decision and said they looked forward to reviewing Viet
Nam's draft ITA Expansion schedule.
Several
ITA participants again expressed concern over Egypt's application of additional
10% duties on imports of cell phones. Egypt said the issue is under discussion among
relevant national authorities and that it will update the Committee accordingly.
The
Committee also discussed ongoing work to identify major non-tariff barriers affecting
trade in ITA products and exchanged views on a structured approach to resolve long-standing
classification divergences of "Attachment B" products of the ITA that
receive duty-free treatment.
The
next formal meeting is tentatively scheduled for 19 November 2026.