JOB/GC/179  
 
13 April 2018  
(18-2258) Page: 1/5 
General Council  Original: English  
 
 
JOINT STATEMENT ON E LECTRONIC COMMERCE  
POSSIBLE ELEMENTS FO R EXPLORATORY WORK O N ELECTRONIC COMMERC E 
AND DEVELOPMENT  
Communication from Singapore  
The following communication, dated 12 April 2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Singapore.  
 
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1. In recent years, various views and ideas have been shared  on how e -commerce work in the 
WTO could be advanced to tap into its potential to drive growth and enable the fulfilment of 
development objectives. At MC11, the Joint St atement on E -commerce (WT/MIN(17)/60) was 
adopted to initiate exploratory work together towards future WTO negotiations on trade -related 
aspects of e -commerce, and also recogni zing the opportunities and challenges faced  by developing 
countries, least -devel oped countries, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This 
submission aims to build on past work and discussions on e -commerce and development in the 
WTO, and suggests areas for inclusion in the exploratory work envisaged in the Joint Statement  on 
E-commerce initiative.  
2. To this end, we have expanded on the issue areas that were highlighted in a previous 
submission on "Electronic Commerce and Development"1 (see Annex A)  which identified some e -
commerce elements of interest and relevance to devel oping countries. Accordingly, under each 
issue area, we have identified specific elements that could potentially be considered in future WTO 
negotiations on trade -related aspects of e -commerce.  
3. The categorisation and grouping is not meant to artificially constrain discussions on any 
particular element to a specific issue area as trade -related aspects of e -commerce are inherently 
cross-cutting and overlapping, but to provide a way to organi ze work. The elements identified also 
do not pretend to constitute a n exhaustive and closed list. We intend for this submission to be a 
living document that could be updated as necessary, to reflect ongoing discussions during the 
exploratory work in the Joint Statement for E -commerce initiative.  
4. The elaborations below are  without prejudice to future negotiating positions and are based 
on elements found in existing Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), 
and previous WTO submissions.  
1  TRADE FACILITATION A ND E -COMMERCE  
1.1.  Cross -border e -commerce often inv olves low value shipments and/or digital transmissions 
over the internet. Once within the borders, logistics players play a big part in ensuring smooth 
delivery of products. What can be done in the WTO to empower smaller businesses to use e -
commerce and lo wer their cost of conducting trade? Elements to consider could include:  
                                                
1 JOB/GC/117 –JOB/CTG/5 –JOB/SERV/249 –JOB/IP/22 –JOB/DEV/43.  JOB/GC/179  
 
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  Issue  Possible Option(s) for 
Consideration in 
Exploratory Work  Why?  
Paperless Trading   Promoting the use of 
paperless trading in 
trade facilitation, e.g. 
improving existing 
provisions on 
acceptance of electronic 
trade administration 
documents, single 
window etc.  
 Making available 
electronic versions of 
trade administration 
documents to the public.  
  Lowers overall cost of trading 
and transaction time by 
simplifying trade facilitation 
procedures.  
 Lower cost and simplified 
procedures lower barriers to 
entry for MSMEs.  
 Increases the ease of doing 
business online.  
 
Moratorium on Customs 
Duties on Electronic 
Transmissions   Making the moratorium 
permanent.   Provides certainty for 
businesses that countries will 
not impose additional layers of 
custom duties in the future.  
 
 
 
2  INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS TO ENABLE E -COMMERCE  
2.1.  Infrastructure gaps in developing countries, and least -developed  countries have posed 
challenges (e.g. access to broadband) to promoting more widespread adoption of e -commerce, 
and closing the digital divide. How could trade policy help to plug the critical gaps?  Elements to 
consider could include:  
Issue  Possible Optio n(s) for 
Consideration in 
Exploratory Work  Why?  
Services Market Access 
and Regulatory Issues   Identifying specific 
commitments in services 
sectors that could 
enable and promote 
infrastructure 
development.  
 Identify ing regulatory 
issues that could enable 
and promote 
infrastructure 
development (e.g. WTO 
Telecommunication 
Reference Paper).  
  Encourages investments in 
services sectors that could 
enable and promote 
infrastructure development (e.g. 
telecommunication services) . 
 Promotes development of 
services sectors that enable 
infrastructure development for 
e-commerce.  
 
Goods Market Access   Identifying tariff 
elimination for products 
that could enable and 
promote infrastructure 
development.  
  Lowers cost of goods (e.g. ICT 
products) that could enable and 
promote infrastructure 
development, and in turn 
promote access to e -commerce.  
 
  JOB/GC/179  
 
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  3  ACCESS TO PAYMENT SO LUTIONS AND ONLINE T RUST  
3.1.  Being able to find payment solutions is key to whet her a business will go online. Trust is also 
a key factor in determining whether consumers are wi lling to engage in e -commerce. This includes 
trust in online payment services, the reputation of the online merchant and whether there is 
enough legal protection to provide recourse  should a transaction go  awry. What can be done in the 
WTO to build trust in online transactions, promote e -commerce, and improve businesses ' and 
consumers ' access to more payment options to better enable them to conduct and a ccess cross -
border e -commerce? Elements to consider co uld include:  
Issue  Possible Option(s) for 
Consideration in 
Exploratory Work  Why?  
Electronic 
Authentication and 
Digital Certificates   Ensuring domestic law in 
place to recognize 
electronic authentication 
methods, e.g. electronic 
signatures.  
 Mutual recognition or 
interoperability of 
electronic authentication 
and digital certificates.  
  Provides certainty for 
businesses and enhances 
business efficiency.  
 Promotes adoption of online 
transaction methods, and 
electronic payment solutions.  
Consumer Protection   Adopting of measures/laws 
to protect online 
consumers from fraudulent 
and deceptive commercial 
activities.  
 Promoting of international 
cooperation between 
consumer protection 
agencies.   Creates a more secure 
environment for e -commerce 
activities.  
 Improves trust, and promote s 
use of online payment 
solutions for businesses, and 
consumers.  
 Cooperation promotes 
sharing of best practices 
among consumer protection 
agencies, and increases 
transparency on parties ' 
domestic regulations.  
Unsolicited Electronic 
Messages (Spam)   Adopting and maintaining 
measures to protect 
consumers from unsolicited 
electronic messages.   Creates a more secure 
environment for e -commerce 
activities.  
 Builds consumer trust and 
encourage s use of e -
commerce.  
Protection of Personal 
Information  
  Adopting and maintaining 
measures or legal 
framework that provides 
for the protection of 
personal information.   Creates a more secure 
environment for e -commerce 
activities.  
 Improves trust, and promote s 
use of online payment 
solutions f or businesses, and 
consumers.  
Cooperation in 
Cybersecurity   Recognising the 
importance of building 
cybersecurity capabilities.  
 Promoting collaboration 
especially in the areas of 
identifying cybersecurity 
threats.   As online transactions 
become more prevalent, 
cybersecurity will become a 
growing concern amongst 
businesses. Establishing a 
common understanding of its 
importance could promote a 
safer online environment.  
 
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 JOB/GC/179  
 
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  ANNEX  A 
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE AND DEVELOPMENT1 
1.1 E-Commerce can be and has been leveraged to support development. For one, it has made 
interactions between consumers and businesses much easier. E -commerce has opened up new 
opportunities for businesses in developing countries, especia lly micro, small and medium 
enterprises (MSMEs), by reducing the cost of doing business, and allowing them to reach a wider 
market. The consumer experience, whether in the areas of media and entertainment, air travel 
and tourism, and even taxi rides, has c hanged over the past few years, thanks to e -commerce. 
Between businesses, the digital interface allows for more efficient operations and supply chains. 
The data generated also allows for optimisation and innovation in their business models. All this 
presen ts a big well of untapped potential, which could boost economic growth and development in 
developing countries.  
 
1.2 E-commerce is the new reality for businesses today, including in developing countries. 
Business to consumer e -commerce is rapidly expanding , particularly in Asia, Latin America, Africa 
and the Middle -East. For example, in Cambodia, Sabay.com, an online gaming company 
introduced Sabay Coins (which can be purchased at internet cafes) as a way for its customers to 
spend online. In Indonesia and Vietnam, SMEs such as Gojek and Nhommua.com have uniquely 
leveraged on high prevalence of motorcycles on the roads for a whole array of services, from 
collecting cash on delivery for online transactions to providing courier and motorcycle taxi services 
via a mobile app. In Africa, a slew of local players such as JamboPay, Ozimbo, PesaPal, 
Yo!Payments, and Simple Pay have cropped up to facilitate payment via mobile phones. Latin 
America has seen the rise of its own eBay and Amazon equivalent in MercadoLibre.  Flipkart and 
Snapdeal have emerged as major e -commerce platforms in India, while China' s Alibaba has 
developed a plethora of supporting services including online payment platform Alipay.  
 
1.3 For micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), e -commerce pre sents an opportunity for 
expansion beyond their own backyards and lowers the high costs usually associated with 
penetrating foreign markets. This has allowed non -traditional players, such as home -makers and 
small handicraft suppliers, to enter the market a nd offer their products on the global marketplace. 
A report by eBay2 showed that technology -enabled SMEs had higher trade activity and overall 
growth compared to traditional SMEs. The report also found that technology -enabled SMEs in 
developing countries p erformed just as well compared to similarly sized technology -enabled SMEs 
in developed economies.  
 
1.4 The future potential for e -commerce utili zation in developing countries is tremendous. 
According to UNCTAD3, the share of global business to consumer e -commerce for Asia and 
Oceania, and Middle East and Africa, are expected to rise from 28% to 37% and 2.2% to 2.5 % 
respectively from 2013 to 2018. In Latin America, online retail sales are expected to grow at a 
compound annual growth rate of 17% between 2014 and 20194. 
 
1.5 It is useful to kick -start discussions and identify the e -commerce issues of interest and 
relevance to developing countries. Some potential areas for discussion include:  
  
                                                
1 Document was circulated as JOB/GC/117 –JOB/CTG/5 –JOB/SERV/249 –JOB/IP/22 –JOB/DEV/43.  
2 Small Online Business Growth Report: Towards an Inclusive Global Economy, eBay Public Policy Lab.  
3 UNCTAD Information Economy Report 2015.  
4 The Latin America E -commerce Report, Business Insider Intelligence.  JOB/GC/179  
 
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Trade Facilitation and E -commerce  
Cross -border e -commerce often involve low value shipments and/or digital transmissions over the 
internet. Once within the borders, logistics players also play a big part in ensuring smooth 
delivery of products. What can be done to further empower smaller b usiness using e -commerce 
and lower their cost of conducting trade?  
 
Infrastructure Gaps to Enable E -commerce  
Infrastructure gaps in developing countries have posed challenges (e.g. access to broadband) but 
also provided innovative opportunities for busine sses (e.g. rise of local payment solutions). Is 
there a way to better target technical assistance towards plugging the critical gaps?  
 
Access to Payment Solutions  
Being able to find payment solutions is key to whether a business will go online. In the abse nce 
of secure online payment services, payment via mobile phones and cash on delivery option have 
been used. How can we improve businesses ' and consumers ' access to more payment options to 
better enable them to conduct and access cross -border e -commerce?  
 
Online Security  
Trust is a key factor in determining whether consumers are willing to engage in e -commerce. This 
includes trust in online payment services, the reputation of the online merchant and even in 
whether there is enough legal protection to provid e recourse should a transaction go awry. What 
can be done to build trust in online transactions and e -commerce and improve consumer 
protection? Is there scope for improved cooperation between countries on cyber -crime?  
 
 
 
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