WT/GC/W/721  
 
1 August 2016  
(16-4105)  Page: 1/2  
General Council 
27 July 2016    
 
 ITEM 4 – WORK PROGRAMME ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE – REVIEW OF PROGRESS 
REPORT BY AMBASSADOR ALFREDO SUESCUM – FRIEND OF THE CHAIR 
1.1.  In Nairobi, Ministers instructed us to continue with the Work Programme on Electronic 
Commerce. I have continued to hold consultations on this matter, in my role as Friend of the Chair 
on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, following the mandate in that decision. 
1.2.  This report, which I am making under my  own responsibility and without prejudice to 
Members positions or views, covers developments in the horizontal discussions under the Work Programme since the Nairobi Ministerial Conference.   
Bilateral consultations with  Members ("Confessionals") 
1.3.  In May this year, I met individually with 20 delegations. The objective of those consultations 
was to gauge Members’ ambitions, and hear their views on the way forward under the 
E-commerce Work Programme. 
1.4.  During the consultations, I sensed a grea ter interest to discuss this topic although views 
remained divergent. Some delegations expressed an interest in possibly pursuing rule-making. 
Others were not ready to do so or believed this lay outside the Nairobi mandate. All, however, 
expressed their open-mindedness and readiness to discuss e-commerce further. Most also underlined the importance of the developmental dimension, balance and being mindful of Members' different leve ls of development.  
1.5.  On institutional aspects, some delegation s were of the view that discussions on e-commerce 
should be concentrated in one forum. Delegation s also stressed the importance of coordinating 
with other IGOs working in this area such as UNCTAD, ITC and ITU.  
1.6.  Regarding the moratorium, the positions of Members remained the same. Some had 
suggested making the moratorium permanent or extending it for a period longer than two years. Others were uncomfortable doing so, especially given the lack of data on the moratorium's 
possible effects.  
1.7.  Members expressed interest in a discussion on issues such as consumer protection, data 
flows and server localisation, privacy, access to the internet, e-commerce readiness and the effects of e-commerce on the economy of developing countries and LDCs. 
Informal Open-ended meeting 
1.8.  Following the bilateral consultations, I co nvened an informal open-ended "transparency" 
session on 6 June 2016 to report back on my consultations and give those delegations that had 
not participated an opportunity to share their views. Compared to past meetings, this Informal 
Open-Ended meeting was well attended and over 20 delegations intervened.  
1.9.  Several delegations reiterated the importance of electronic commerce to their economies but 
also noted the many challenges they faced. It was noted by some that the WTO was lagging 
behind in this area and needed to play its role in unleashing the full potential of e-commerce.  WT/GC/W/721 
 
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  1.10.  Some delegations expressed concern regard ing the scope of the discussions. Many felt it 
was necessary to identify the contents of the discussion and what would be covered. Some delegations mentioned the need to address issues of necessary infrastructure, access and connectivity.  
1.11.  On the moratorium, the range of positions was the same as in the consultations.   
1.12.  In the course of the meeting, two delegati ons made separate requests to the Secretariat. 
The first delegation proposed that the Secretariat provide an assessment of the implications of the 
moratorium. The second desired the Secretariat to update its 2015 background paper (JOB/GC/73 
and JOB/GC/73/Corr.1). I will revert to these requests shortly. 
1.13.  On process, many delegations felt a need to have more Dedicated Discussions on electronic 
commerce. In concluding that meeting, I expre ssed hope that, at the next Dedicated Discussion, 
Members would engage in a structured manner and possibly have some clarity on where and how 
they wished to proceed and which topics they wished to discuss. 
11
th Dedicated Discussion 25 and 26 July 
1.14.  On 25 and 26 July, I chaired the 11th Dedicated Discussion under the auspices of the 
General Council on cross-cutting issues. With regard to the 2 requests to the Secretariat in the Informal Open-ended meeting, I reported that the Secretariat had expressed its readiness to 
prepare an assessment on the possible implications of the moratorium as well as to update its 
2015 background note. No delegation objected to the Secretariat proceeding as requested.  
1.15.  Delegations held preliminary discussions on seven separate submissions presented by 
Members prior to the meeting, and discussed possible ways forward.  
1.16.  Many delegations welcomed the renewed in terest in e-commerce discussions, but noted that 
they were still studying the numerous submissions and that they would revert at a later stage. 
While the discussions and reactions were of a pre liminary nature, a range of issues covered by the 
submissions were raised covering both substance and process.  
1.17.  As I informed delegations at the Dedicated Discussion, I intend to consult further with them 
after the summer break on how to organize future, and hopefully in-depth discussion, which could 
include workshops as suggested by a few delegations.  I will explore also the possibility of another 
Dedicated Session before the end of September.  
1.18.  In the meantime, I encourage delegations to  remain engaged. As agreed by Ministers in 
Nairobi, the Work Programme should continue on the basis of proposals submitted by Members. In 
past consultations, many delegations had emphasised the importance of a bottom-up approach. 
1.19.  I welcome the renewed interest in e-commerce discussions as shown by the number and 
quality of recent submissions and by the appearance of various groups such as MIKTA and the 
"Friends of E-commerce for Development". As noted by several delegations, these are 
complementary in nature, and will contribute to our ongoing discussions. The proponents have noted that their submissions are not negotiating proposals but are rather aimed at stimulating 
discussion. 
1.20.  I look forward to more concrete discussions after the summer break. Between now and 
then, I welcome any ideas, questions, suggestions or comments Members may have and remain ready to consult further. 
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