G/C/60  
 
17 July 2018  
(18-4500) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Goods    
 
WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC COMMERCE  
REPORT BY THE CHAIRP ERSON OF THE COUNCIL  FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
TO THE GENERAL COUNC IL 
As agreed by the Council for Trade in Goods  (CTG)  at its meeting of 3 and 4  July 2018, I hereby 
make, under my own responsibility as Chairperson, the following factual report to the General 
Council  concerning the CTG  meetings that took place on 23 and 26  March, and 3 and 4  July 2018. 
 
Pursuant to the 2017  Ministerial Decision1 instructing the General Council, inter alia , to hold 
periodi c reviews of the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (WPEC or WP) in its sessions of 
July and December  2018 and July  2019, based on the reports submitted by the WTO  bodies 
entrusted with the implementation of the Work Programme, the Council for Trade in Goods placed 
the issue of the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce on the agenda of its meetings held on 
23 and 26  March , and 3 and 4  July 2018. At these meetings, the Chair invited delegations to 
express their opinions and to make suggestions as to how t o work on the preparation of the 
periodic review to be held in the General Council at its session of July  2018.  
 
At the meeting of 23 and 26  March  2018, Chinese Taipei introduced two proposals2: one focused 
on cyberspace trade barriers and the other on how cyberspace "intrudes" on physical space, with a 
case study offered on  3D printing  and the sharing economy. These documents led to a discussion 
among Members of a number of issues, including the challenges and opportunities created by 
E-Commerce for Micro,  Small and Medium Size Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in developing 
countries, as well as cross-border data flows, and cybersecurity.  
 
With regard to the Work Programme itself, several delegations expressed the view that the Buenos 
Aires Decision had de monstrated Members' interest in and willingness to reinvigorate and continue 
work on E -Commerce, and to work in a n engaged and  constructive manner in the context of  the 
WPEC  discussions. In this vein , several delegations referred to the important contribution of 
E-Commerce to global economic growth and reiterated the need to continue exploring any 
possibility for further discussion s on E-Commerce un der the 1998  framework. Members referred  to 
the opportunity provided by the Trade Facilitation Agreem ent (TFA) to address some of the 
challenges arising from the increasing volume of parcels  as a result of  E-Commerce ; the need for a 
proper sequencing of E-Commerce discussions, including on international principles, norms, and 
rules; as well as the need to  recognize the existing digital divide.  
 
China, supported by various Members, reiterated its propos al that a workshop on electronic 
commerce and trade in goods be organized3 in 2018 under the aegis of the CTG. Since there was 
no opposition to this initiati ve, my predecessor had indicated that  I, as Chair of the CTG, should 
hold consultations in this regard.  
 
At the meeting of 3 and 4  July 2018, China, followed by Pakistan, reported on a "Workshop on 
E-Commerce for Development under the Multilateral Trading System", organized and sponsored by 
China,  which had been held in Beijing from 8 to 21 May 2018, and which had been attended by 
25 participants from 15  developing countries. They also referred to a follow -up seminar  that had 
been organized by the Friend s of E-Commerce for Development (FED) , in Geneva , on 
28 June 2018.  
 
                                                
1 Document  WT/L/1032.  
2 Documents  JOB/CTG/12 and JOB/CTG/13.  
3 See document  G/C/M/127, paragraph  19.9. G/C/60  
 
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  With respect to China's proposal to hold a workshop on electronic commerce and trade in goods 
under the auspices of the CTG, at th e July meeting I briefed the Council on two informal rounds of 
consultations that I had held with delegations, including certain delegations acting  also in their 
capacity as group coordinators, with the objective of exploring their preliminary views and 
suggestions with regard to themes , speakers , and dates , for any such proposed workshop . 
 
Following my report to the Council, one delegation reiterated its support for a workshop in the 
context of the WTO and underscored that it represented an opportunity for Members to develop an 
appreciation  of the w ork being done by other international organizations, such as at the WCO, the 
OECD, UNCTAD, and the UPU . Another delegation  referred to additional possible elements to be 
considered when preparing the programme.  One delegation expressed its readiness to wor k with 
others towards a workshop proposal that would lead to a relevant and interesting event, with 
broad scope. A view was expressed that other events had already been held  that covered diverse 
E-Commerce topics , and that the proposed workshop would not introduce  any new issues ; in 
addition, this delegation considered that questions remained regarding the objective of the 
proposed workshop, as well as with regard to the process concerning its organization, which if it 
were to take place , should be Member -driven , and with consultations undertaken in an open-ended 
format. Some other delegations indicated that they were supportive of suggestions to hold 
workshops on E -Commerce with proposals developed in line with the WPEC.  
 
It was  agreed that I would continu e the informal process of consultations on a possible workshop 
on electronic commerce and trade in goods . 
 
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