WT/MIN(17)/29  
8 December 2017  
(17-6758) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh  Session  
Buenos Aires , 10-13 December 20 17 Original: English  
 
 
WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC COMMERCE1 
COMMUNICATION FROM B ANGLADESH  
The following communication, dated 8 December  2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Bangladesh.  
_______________  
 
 
DRAFT MINISTERIAL DE CISION ON ELECTRONIC  COMMERCE  
 
The Ministerial Conference , 
Recalling  the "Work Programme on Electronic Commerce" adopted on 25 September 1998 
(WT/L/274), and reaffirming subsequent Ministerial Declarations and Decisions on the Work 
Programme;  
Noting the potential of electronic commerce to benefit small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs) 
in developing countries, in particular the least developed  among them;  
Taking note  of discussions on electronic commerce under the auspices of the General Council and 
its relevant subsidiary bodies, and in the various seminars organized during WTO public forums 
and various Members since our last session;  
Recogniz ing that effective conduct of cross -border as well as domestic e -commerce requires a 
holistic approach that addresses the digital divide, nation -wide access to the internet, e -payment 
systems, consumer protection, cybersecurity, competition and other issue s for harnessing the 
potential of e -commerce to make trade inclusive for all;  
Further recognizing  the importance of promoting direct access to the consumers by SMEs in 
developing countries in particular the least developed countries;  
Mindful  that e -commerce has the potential to make international trade borderless and is likely to 
bring competition at global level;  
Determined that  in-depth discussions on electronic commerce under the WTO framework provide 
clarity on the opportunities and challenges  to inclusive trade for all as well as economic growth for 
Members  at different stages of development;  
Decides as follows:  
We agree to continue work under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce.  We instruct the 
four relevant bodies under the W ork Programme – the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG), Council 
for Trade in Services (CTS), Council for TRIPs (TRIPS Council) and Committee for Trade and 
Development (CTD) - to conclude the discussions assigned to those bodies pursuant to the existing 
                                                
1 Originally circulated in document JOB/GC/152/Rev.1.  WT/MIN(17)/29  
 
- 2 - 
 
  work programme found in WT/L/274. The four relevant bodies shall report to the General Council 
in July 2018 with any appropriate recommendations for their future actions.  The General Council 
shall assess the reports from the four relevant bodies and take decisi on on future course of 
actions.  
We instruct the General Council to examine the development of electronic commerce with a view 
to exploring possible ways to harness the potential of electronic commerce to benefit SMEs in 
developing countries, especially le ast developed countries, including through promoting their direct 
access to the consumers and ensuring fair competition in electronic commerce at the global level.  
We further instruct the Director General to maintain close liaison with other international 
organizations on developments in the areas of bridging the digital divide, ensuring access to 
internet for all, e -payment solutions, cybersecurity, consumer policy among other issues and to 
report to the General Council.  
We further agree that developed co untry Members shall, and the developing country Members 
declaring themselves in a position to do so, should provide duty free and quota free access to all 
goods and services originating from all LDCs that are exported using e -commerce2 platform 
directly  from LDCs suppliers.  
The General Council shall report on progress and any recommendations by our next session.  
__________  
 
                                                
2 As defined in Paragraph 1.3 of 1998 "Work Programme on Electronic Commerce" , the term "electronic 
commerce" is understood to mean the production, distribution, marketing, sale or  delivery of goods and 
services by electronic means .