DFAT Trade talk 8th February 2019

WTO electronic commerce negotiations

Seventy-six WTO members representing over 90 percent of global trade have issued a Joint Statement confirming their intention to commence negotiations on trade-related aspects of e-commerce, with the objective of achieving a high standard outcome involving as many members as possible. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said commencing WTO negotiations on e-commerce was a significant step towards updating international trade rules in line with how modern business takes place. The Joint Statement was issued following a meeting hosted by Australia, Japan and Singapore in the margins of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos in late January.