INF/ECOM/12  
 
25 March  2019 
(19-1864) Page: 1/2 
 Original: English  
 
JOINT S TATEMENT ON ELECTRON IC COMMERCE* 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE RUSSIAN FEDERATI ON 
The following communication, dated 15 June 2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the Russian Federation . 
 
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1.1.  Russia welcomes growing discussions under the Joint Statement on electronic commerce. 
Following our communication (JOB/GC/181) on possible ways for deepening our exploratory work 
towards future WTO negotiations on trade -related aspects of e -commerce, this submission advances 
our proposals relating to consumer protection principles.  
1.2.  Rapid growth and development of new digital technologies and e -commerce has caused 
significant changes in global economy over the past decades. These trends encourage innovations, 
create jobs and provid e unprecedented opportunities for micro and small businesses located even in 
the most remote places of the world, and, therefore enab le sustainable growth and socio -economic 
development.  
1.3.  At the same time  it is online consumers and their level of knowledge and trust in emerging 
technologies, including digital ones, and new business models on e -market that become a key pillar 
for successful development of digital economy. The risks for online consumers in e -commerce are 
posed by cross -border transactions, peer to peer platforms, dispute resolution and redress, 
aggressive targeted marketing and SPAM, product/service safety and quality and electronic payment 
systems. Language barrier (quality and extent of tra nslation) and increasing volumes of online trade 
hinder the establishment of strict rules on the structure of information brought to online consumers.  
1.4.  Special attention should be paid to the security and transparency of online payments. Online 
consumers sh ould be fully informed about the nature and possible risks of the payment service 
before it is received, and how to protect their rights. One of the key remaining problems in this 
sphere is the low level of trust in the supply of financial services through  electronic means (systems). 
Lack of confidence in personal data security systems and low financial literacy in this area lead to 
the formation of incorrect consumer patterns.  
1.5.  That is why it is important to pay attention to the issues of consumer literacy ; increasing 
consumer confidence in e -commerce ; and protection of their rights and interests in this area.  
POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR DEEPENING DISCUSSION  ON CONSUMER TRUST I SSUES  
1.6.  Collective efforts of all interested parties are needed to increase consumer trust i n digital 
economy as well as their confidence in receiving appropriate level of protection that is at least 
equivalent to that provided for online consumers of traditional forms of commerce.  
                                                
* This document was originally circulated as JOB/GC/ 190 dated 18 June 2018.  INF/ECOM/12  
 
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  1.7.   Tackling digital literacy of online consumers and expanding thei r access to digital economy 
could be achieved via such non -exhaustive practical actions, as:  
• Provide protection for online consumers ' rights on the level no less than is provided in 
traditional forms of commerce;  
 
• Endeavour  to increase the potential of onl ine consumers to protect their rights in the 
context of e -commerce (knowledge, skills, and opportunities);  
 
• Recognize the key online consumer rights in e -commerce, including the right for reliable 
information about goods/services;  
 
• Set basic principles for  cooperation and information exchange on cross border trade for 
competent authorities and develop unified approaches for cooperation and mutual aid in 
order to prevent dishonest commercial activities in the field of e -commerce;  
 
• Ensure security of cross bo rder transaction s carried out in e -commerce, i.e ., their 
confidentiality and safety;  
 
• Ensure transparency of financial service supply, high standards of online consumer 
identification and personal data protection;  
 
• Encourage private sector to engage in goo d business p ractices (negative and 
positive  incentives);  
 
• Set the definition for the list of possible measures to counter cross border violations of 
online consumer rights for safety and quality of goods and services purchased, as well 
as for the information on subjects of e -commerce, goods and services;  and 
 
• Provide for the creation of a digital platform, which may contain information about the 
detection of unsafe goods and services sold online.  
 
1.8.  We would like to note that in order to increase online consumer confidence in e -commerce we 
should also elaborate standar ds for supply of payment services in e -commerce, including personal 
data transmission requirements (e.g. , according to these requirements the seller/payment 
aggregator can request a limited amount of information from the consumer regarding his personal 
data; any additional data, which is not directly related to payment transaction, should not be 
requested). In addition, conditions and procedures of personal data proceedings, timeframes for 
data storage, measures for confidentiality and security of personal data, as well as order of personal 
data transmission need to be developed and agreed.  
 
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