JOB/GC/150  
 
10 November 2017  
(17-6117) Page: 1/2 
General Council  Original: English  
 
WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC -COMMERCE  
COMMUNICATION FROM C HINA 
The following communication, dated 10 November 2017, is being circulated at the reques t 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 on the Work 
Programme;  
Taking note  of the valuable discussions on elect ronic commerce under the auspices of the General 
Council and its relevant subsidiary bodies, and the seminars held by MIKTA, FED and the Afric an 
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 the  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 discussions 
under the General Council a nd 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 to 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, includ ing but not limited to facilitating cro ss-border e -commerce ; 
promoting  paperless trad ing; transparency;  as well as  development and cooperation . 
To instruct the General Council to keep a standing i tem on its agenda  and continue to hold periodic 
reviews in its 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 recommendations JOB/GC/150  
 
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  on possible measures rel ated 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 discussio ns 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, includin g small producers and suppliers,  and conduct 
information exchange, joint study, promotion events and training, including the sharin g 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 
transmissions until our next session, whic h we have decided to hold in 201 9. 
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