On 2 April, the Commission forwarded to the Council of the EU recommendations for future plurilateral negotiations on electronic commerce ('e-commerce’).
The launch of plurilateral talks was announced at the end of January by the European Union and 47 other WTO members (see EUROPE 12180/7).
The purpose of this document is to complement the mandates published under the nearly 20-year-old Doha Agenda and to clarify the EU's objectives in these negotiations.
As an attachment to this textual proposal, the Commission lists some of the areas on which these discussions could focus. These include the facilitation of electronic transactions and customs duties on electronic transmissions, but also the protection of online consumers or regulatory disciplines on telecommunications services. It also mentions cross-border data flows, data location requirements and protection of personal data, as well as certain aspects of property rights.
The first formal round of negotiations, during which the participants' textual proposals will be discussed, is expected to take place in early May.
A first meeting, where organizational issues were discussed, was held in March.
According to the Commission, plurilateral rules on ‘e-commerce’, which could eventually lead to a multilateral legal framework, would increase trade opportunities while addressing the challenges faced by developed and developing countries.
To consult the text: https://bit.ly/2Vib0tW and its annex: https://bit.ly/2UwfGiP. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)