E-Commerce: Maximising Benefits through Regional and Multilateral Rules

The Internet has revolutionised communication, information, and innovation, opening up new areas for economic growth, prospects for employment and opportunities for participation in global markets by individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and businesses all around the globe. In the run-up to Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11), convergence has emerged across proposals with regard to the development potential of e-commerce, and the need for an enabling environment to ensure inclusive growth. As WTO members explore options to advance a discussion on e-commerce in the WTO, regional trade agreements (RTAs) that already include rules for digital trade can provide valuable lessons and key precedents to build upon. The session sought to provide information and analysis on the most recent developments in the area of e-commerce rulemaking under RTAs, and contrasted those against the scope and nature of the current efforts under the WTO. In addition, this session sought to identify gaps in e-commerce rulemaking between the WTO and RTAs and to bring forward possible measures to address this challenge. This session was organised under the RTA Exchange, and was moderated by Ady Beitler, Integration and Trade Senior Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank.

The biennial Trade and Sustainable Development Symposium (TSDS), held alongside the WTO ministerial conference for over a decade, is the leading multi-stakeholder platform for intellectual enquiry and dialogue on sustainable development and the global trade and investment system. The TSDS – organised by ICTSD in partnership with the Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC), the Inter–American Development Bank (BID), Consejo Argentino para las Relaciones Internacionales (CARI) and Bolsa de Cereales with the support and collaboration of the Ministerio de Producción, Presidencia de la Nación, Argentina – acts as an inclusive platform outside of the WTO negotiating setting for sharing ideas, engaging in dialogue, and influencing trade policy negotiations. Drawing in participants from government, business and civil society, the Symposium helps to maintain and elaborate a global vision of sustainable development in trade and investment policymaking.