WT/MIN(17)/34  
 
9 December 2017  
(17-6768) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC -COMMERCE1 
COMMUNICATION FROM C HINA 
The following communication, dated 9 December  2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of China.  
 
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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 o n the Work 
Programme;  
Taking note  of the valuable discussions on electronic commerce under the auspices of the General 
Council and its relevant subsidiary bodies, and the seminars held by MIKTA, FED and the African 
Group since our last session;  
Recognizing  the importance of deepening such discussions under the WTO framework for a better 
understand ing of  the opportunities and challenges incurred from electronic commerce for the trade 
growth and economic progress of Members  at different development stages;  
Decides:  
To continue with the positive work under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce since our 
last session, based on its existing mandate and guidelines and on the basis of proposals submitted 
by Members in the respective WTO bodies . 
To reiterate t he central role of the General Council under the Work Programme on electronic 
commerce, and  considering the cross -cutting nature of E -commerce,  to explore appropriate 
mechanisms for necessary focused horizontal discussions in parallel with the respective d iscussions 
under the General Council and its relevant subsidiary bodies, including to reinvigorate the 
Dedicated Discussion of the General Counci l or at a body to be agreed upon by all Members . 
To instruct the General Council at its first meeting in 2018 t o appoint the Chair of the Dedicated 
Discussion, and that a work plan be agreed upon at the first meeting of the Dedicated Discussion.  
To instruct the  Dedicated Discussion to take up trade -related electronic commerce elements 
acceptable to Members, includi ng but not limited to facilitating cross -border e -commerce; 
promoting  paperless trad ing; transparency;  as well as  development and cooperation.  
                                                
1 Originally circulated in document JOB/GC/150.  WT/MIN(17)/34  
 
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  To instruct the General Council to keep a standing item on its agenda  and continue to hold periodic 
reviews in it s sessions of July and December 201 8 and July 201 9, based on the reports submitted 
by the WTO bodies entrusted with the implementation of the Work Programme and Dedicated 
Discussion Chair of the General Council, to assess its progress and consider any reco mmendations 
on possible measures related to electronic commerce in the next session of the Ministerial 
Conference . 
To instruct the General Council to emphasize the development dimension in the Work Programme, 
particularly through the CTD, and take forward the issues emerging in the discussions and the 
evolving application of e -commerce to enhance economic/development opportunities, with special 
consideration of the situation in developing countries, particularly in least -developed country 
Members and least connected countries.  
To continue to examine opportunities and challenges for access to electronic commerce by micro, 
small and medium -sized enterprises, including small producers and suppliers,  and conduct 
information exchange, joint study, promotion event s and training, including the sharing of 
experience in helping MSMEs, economically under -developed areas and vulnerable groups to 
participate in e -commerce . 
That Members will maintain the current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic 
transm issions until our next session, which we have decided to hold in 201 9. 
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