JOB/SERV/296 /Rev.1  
 
22 June 2020  
(20-4365) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Services  Original: English  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM AUSTRALIA ; BRAZIL ; CANADA ; COLOMBIA ; 
HONG  KONG , CHINA ; JAPAN ; MEXICO ; NEW ZEALAND ; NORWAY ; SINGAPORE  
AND THE UNITED KINGDOM   
EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS ON SUPPORTING DIGITAL CAPABILITY OF  
BUSINESS AND CONSUMERS  
Revision1 
The following communication, dated 18 June 2020, is being circulated to  the Members of the Council 
for Trade in Services at the request of the delegations of Aus tralia; Brazil ; Canada ; Colombia ; 
Hong Kong, China ; Japan ; Mexico ; New Zealand ; Norway ; Singapore and the United Kingdom . 
 
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1.  Prior to COVID -19, trade in services was the fastest growing sector globally with commercial 
services exports increa sing three times faster than goods exports, measured by value.2 At the same 
time, the 2019 WTO World Trade report identified a move towards online services (‘mode 1’; 30% 
of trade in services in 2017). The pandemic has affected sectors including tourism, transport and 
distribution services but the increase in delivery  of online services is expected to continue.3  
2.  The trend towards online services, accelerated by the pandemic, presents both opportunities and 
challenges for business, consumers and governments.   
3.  Businesses have rapidly responded to the changing operatin g environment caused by COVID -19 
and deployed digital solutions to support staff, serve customers, source alternate supply options, 
communicate with stakeholders and address operational and financial efficiency.  In many countries, 
governments have sought to support these efforts or are taking steps to make it easier to buy and 
sell services and goods online. This also includes policies linked to the economic recovery from the 
pandemic.   
4.  The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of digital inclusion and the challenges all 
countries are facing to address the digital divide. This is particularly felt by small suppliers and in 
developing and least -developed countries.  
5.  To assist governments in considering how to address these issues, we propose  that Members, 
through the CTS Work Programme on E -commerce, share information on current domestic programs 
seeking to increase digital capability and address the digital divide as they relate to e -commerce. In 
this way, we could learn from each other’s ex perience and help capitals with information on best 
practice policy in this area.  
6.  To assist in generating discussion, we propose the following questions as a first step:  
• What are the challenges and opportunities for digital solutions and digital delivery of 
services?  
 
1 This revision is to add Hong Kong, China to the list of co -sponsors . 
2 WTO World Trade Report 2019 https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/wtr_e.htm .   
3 WTO Information Note on E -commerce, Trade and the COVID -19 pandemic 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/ecommerce_report_e.pdf .   JOB/SERV/296 /Rev.1  
 
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  • What are Members doing to address these challenges and harness these opportunities? For 
instance, what domestic programs, policies or practices have been or are being put in place 
to increase digital capability and address the digital divide a s they relate to e -commerce, 
including any assistance to MSMEs?  
• Are Members undertaking cooperation activities to support digital capability and address the 
digital divide as they relate to e -commerce?  
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