World Trade Organisation members have intensified discussions on digital industrialisation and technology transfer as vital strategies for strengthening global e-commerce.
At a recent meeting under the Work Programme on E-commerce, members explored ways to bridge the digital divide, enhance connectivity, and equip developing economies with the tools needed to thrive in the digital marketplace.
According to the WTO, members highlighted key enablers of digital industrialisation, including robust digital and physical infrastructure, connectivity, regulatory frameworks, and digital skills development.
It noted that discussions also centred on how regional cooperation and international partnerships can facilitate technology transfer, strengthen cybersecurity, improve payment services, and support capacity building in developing economies.
“The WTO’s role in fostering digital trade through collaboration with development partners and financial institutions was a major point of discussion,” it noted.
It stated that members underscored the need to identify technologies that can bridge digital gaps and create financing opportunities to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to access global digital markets.
Meanwhile, the WTO mentioned that the impact of artificial intelligence on e-commerce also featured prominently, with concerns raised about data protection, intellectual property rights, and regulatory challenges.
“Members emphasised the need for technical assistance tailored to address country-specific challenges in e-commerce governance and policy implementation,” WTO stated.
Ambassador Richard Brown of Jamaica, the meeting’s facilitator, announced that consultations would be held in June to gather members’ recommendations ahead of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).
Brown also confirmed that the next dedicated session in April would focus on the role of AI and frontier technologies in e-commerce.
Looking ahead, he mentioned that WTO members will reconvene in May to deliberate on the ongoing moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, a topic that has sparked debate in recent years.
