WTO Talks Stalled as Divisions Persist on E-Commerce Duties and Reforms

The 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, remained deadlocked on its final day. The three-day conference concluded on Sunday, 29 March. Although 66 countries reached consensus during discussions on Saturday, no final decision could be achieved due to disagreements over extending the e-commerce duty moratorium and issues related to organizational reforms, Reuters reported.

According to the report, extending the moratorium on e-commerce duties—renewed every two years since 1998—has emerged as the central issue. India has supported a two-year extension, while the United States is seeking a permanent solution. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that Washington is not interested in temporary extensions.

A Western diplomat indicated that the United States might agree to a 10-year extension as a “path to permanence.” Another source noted that a five- to ten-year extension is under discussion. However, most member countries are unlikely to agree to a term exceeding two years.

U.S. ambassador to the WTO, Joseph Barloon, said that a permanent extension of the moratorium would encourage the United States to remain “fully engaged” in the WTO. A senior diplomat warned that failure to extend the moratorium could provide the United States with grounds to exert pressure on the organization.

Divisions also emerged over reform issues at the conference. The United States and the European Union have alleged that China is exploiting current rules to their disadvantage. Detailed reform proposals have faced opposition. Additionally, India is blocking the inclusion of an agreement aimed at increasing investment in developing countries within WTO rules, arguing that such plurilateral agreements undermine the organization’s foundational principles.

DBTech/BMT/EK/OR