. /.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/26
13 November 2000
(00-4814)
Committee on Trade and Development
WORK PROGRAMME ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE -
CONTRIBUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
Report by the Chairman
1. Following the General Council decision on 17 July 2000 to reinvigorate the work programme
on electronic commerce, the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) held two formal meetings,
on 22 September and 27 October 2000, which allowed for some discussions on electronic commerce.
2. The Committee also held an informal meeting on 25 October 2000, where representatives
from four other international organizations - UNCTAD, ITC, ITU, WIPO - as well as from the WTO
Secretariat made presentations on their work on electronic commerce. Concerns were raised about theimplications of the "digital divide" between developed and many developing countries.  At the same
time, a number of IGOs and Members highlighted their special initiatives, which aimed to bridge this
divide.
3. The Chairperson of the Committee on Trade and Development had submitted a progress
report on electronic commerce and development to the General Council in July 1999(WT/COMTD/19).  This report included an illustrative list of points for which further study had been
proposed by certain delegations during the course of discussions in the CTD.
1  Since the submission
of the report, no substantial discussion has taken place on these issues in the Committee.
4. Without prejudice to any decision that may be taken by the General Council relating to the
work programme on electronic commerce, including its structure, the Committee on Trade and
Development sees an interest in continued work on development-related aspects of electronic
commerce.  These aspects are in general not confined to one area of WTO work but relate to goods,services, as well as intellectual property and their development dimension.
5. The Committee finds it important to keep track of the rapid developments in e-commerce
itself, and specifically the evolving interests and concerns of developing countries therein.  In this
connection, the CTD intends to organize a second seminar on electronic commerce in the spring
of 2001.
6. Cooperation with other agencies and Members, which have set up special programmes for
providing technical assistance and for promoting de veloping countries' participation in electronic
commerce, would continue to be very important in this context.
                                                     
1 These points are listed in the Annex.WT/COMTD/26
Page 2
ANNEX
Contribution by the Committee on Trade and Development
to the WTO Work Programme on Electronic Commerce
15 July 1999 (WT/COMTD/19)
Section E:  Illustrative list of points for which further study has been proposed:
7. What human resource development requirements are needed to address the needs of
developing countries in e-commerce?
8. Innovative solutions and success stories should be found and documented as case studies.
9. Further work on the issue of infrastructure development should be undertaken.  The need and
possibilities for technical assistance should be investigated.
10. What will be the effects of e-commerce on modes of supply such as commercial presence and
the movement of natural persons?
11. Would unrestricted, unregulated electronic commerce provide increased market access for
enterprises in developing countries?
12. How can developing country enterprises compete in e-commerce?  What will be the impact of
e-commerce on domestic producers in specific sectors?
13. How will supply and demand for particular goods and services be affected by electronic
commerce on a disaggregated level?  What are the substitution effects of e-commerce in trade?  Whateffects will e-commerce have on competition in different sectors?
14. What are the effects of inter-firm relations in e-commerce?
15. How will e-commerce affect Members' obligations and commitments in the WTO
Agreements?
16. What impact is electronic commerce likely to have on customs revenue in developing
countries?  How significant are the duties on particular products traded electronically in specific
countries?  What is the likely effect of liberalization on revenues?  How should fiscal policies relating
specifically to customs duties be established in relation to e-commerce?
17. What would be the relevant approach in the WTO if there is no importation for tariff
purposes?
18. Other issues to be examined further include th e treatment of intellectual property protection,
including domain names, and regulatory regimes.
__________