Conclusion of the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaounde
The fourteenth Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) wrapped up on Monday in Yaounde, Cameroon, leaving unresolved the pivotal debate surrounding the extension of the moratorium on customs duties related to electronic commerce, including digital downloads and streaming services, according to reports from The Hindu.
Initially established in May 1998, the moratorium prohibited WTO members from imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions for a duration of two years.
Since then, this hiatus has been renewed on a biennial basis. The cessation of this moratorium could pave the way for the reintroduction of tariffs on e-commerce activities.
Contentious negotiations ensued between Brazil and the United States, with a fractious divide among member states. While some nations opposed an extension or favored a two-year renewal, the U.S. advocated for a five-year moratorium.
The current moratorium concerning electronic transmissions and non-violation under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) is set to lapse on March 31, 2026.
The proceedings of MC14 commenced on March 26, 2023, in Cameroon’s capital. Although the sessions were initially slated to conclude on March 29, they were extended slightly, coming to a close on March 30.
Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Cameroon’s Minister of Trade and Chair of MC14, noted that Trade Ministers endeavored to resolve as many issues as possible across diverse negotiation facets during the four-day assembly.
Yet, he lamented, “we ran out of time” concerning several critical matters, notably the WTO’s work program on electronic commerce and the prolongation of existing moratoriums on customs duties and non-violation disputes under TRIPS.
It has been decided that discussions will continue on these unresolved matters in Geneva, the headquarters of the WTO.
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala praised the advancements made in discussions surrounding a work program for ongoing WTO reforms, including progress on further restrictions aimed at harmful fisheries subsidies, among other pivotal issues.
The WTO issued a statement declaring that Ministers agreed to persist in negotiations regarding fisheries subsidies, with the objective of formulating recommendations for the forthcoming 15th Ministerial Conference.
Held biennially, the Ministerial Conference serves as the WTO’s paramount decision-making authority. This year’s gathering saw the participation of nearly 2,000 trade officials, including over 90 ministers, marking only the second occasion on which the conference has been convened in Africa, following MC10 in Nairobi in 2015.
Source link: Dailynewnation.com.
