JOB/GC/139  
 
10 October 2017  
(17-5445) Page: 1/3 
General Council  Original: English  
 
WORK PROGRAMME  ON ELECTRONIC COMMER CE 
COMMUNICATION FROM C OSTA RICA  
The following communication, dated 10 October 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Costa Rica.  
 
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DRAFT  MINISTERIAL DECISION  
WTO E -COMMERCE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA  
The Ministerial Conference , 
 
Having regard to paragraph 1 of Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World 
Trade Organization;  
 
Recalling  the 'Work Programme on Electronic Commerce' adopted on 25 September 1998 and 
reaffir ming subsequent Ministerial Declarations and Decisions on it;  
 
Considering  the potential of electronic commerce for socioeconomic development;  
 
Recognizing  the importance of clarity, transparency and predictability in domestic regulatory 
frameworks in fac ilitating the development of electronic commerce;  
 
Further recognizing  the importance of facilitating the use of electronic commerce by micro, small 
and medium sized enterprises;  
 
Re-confirming  the right of Members to maintain a regulatory environment cond ucive to electronic 
commerce to meet national policy objectives and, given asymmetries with respect to the degree of 
development of electronic commerce, the particular need of developing c ountries to exercise this 
right; 
 
Decides : 
 
To establish, as an inte gral part of the 1998 Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, a n 
E-Commerce  for Development Agenda to assess the needs of develo ping countries in relation to 
e-commerce and to facilitate focused dialogue on the challenges and opportunities they face, as 
set out in Annex XX.  
 
 
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  JOB/GC/139  
 
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  ANNEX XX  
1. The WTO E -Commerce for Development Agenda shall identify priority needs of developing 
countries, including Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small 
Island Developing States with respect to e -commerce.   
2. Given that the Agenda shall leverage the expert ise and capacity of relevant international and 
regional institutions working collaboratively, we:  
a. Request the Director -General to coordinate with the Secretary -General of UNCTAD, the 
Executive Director of ITC, and the President of the World Bank  to leverag e their 
institutions ' expertise, and that of other international organizations, in preparing 
informational material on each of the subject areas in paragraph 3 below. This will assist 
all Members, especially developing countries, to engage fully in relevan t discussions;  
b. Consider inputs from regional organizations regarding challenges and priorities in the 
development of e -commerce in different regions to be essential, as are inputs from 
regional financial institutions regarding funding to meet gaps.  
3. The Ag enda should focus on the following six areas working on the basis of proposals and 
contributions submitted by Members:  
a. ICT Infrastructure and Services : How can we apply trade policy to help reduce the digital 
divide, especially considering Sust ainable Deve lopment Goal 9(c): "to significantly 
increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide 
universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020 "? 
b. Trade Logistics :  How can we facilitate trade fro m developing countries, especially from 
LDCs, through transparent, predictable and more favourable terms for e -commerce by 
simplifying customs procedures for exports to developed countries?  
c. Payment Solutions : How can we facilitate mobile payment services to advance financial 
inclusion, and to ensure international payments for e -commerce transactions in goods 
and services?  
d. Legal and Regulatory Frameworks : How can we promote e -commerce enabling 
environment by improving regulations on consumer protection, dat a protection, secure 
cross-border data transfers, and other relevant issues?  
e. E-commerce Skills Development and Technical Assistance : How can the WTO, ITC, 
UNCTAD, and other relevant international institutions improve e -commerce readiness 
and strategy and t he delivery of assistance with a particular focus on MSMEs?  
f. Access to Finance : How can we facilitate access to finance for e -commerce, especially for 
MSMEs and LDCs?  
4. Work by WTO and other relevant international organizations to improve the availability of 
information related to cross -border e -commerce shall form an integral part of the Agenda, in 
order to facilitate evidence -based policymaking in the area of e -commerce and development 
that will benefit all Members;  
5. That the Working Group on E -Commerce1 should engage itself with this Agenda as part of its 
regular work:  
a. A comprehensive report on the work carried out under the E-Commerce for Development 
Agenda shall be submitted to the General Council and a report on the progress achieved 
presented to the next session of the Ministerial Conference;  
                                                
1 This refers to informal proposals of other Members; the final text would need adjustment depending 
upon negotiations.  JOB/GC/139  
 
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  b. The Working Group may present recommendations to the General Council on the areas 
in paragraph 3, particularly issues of a cross -cutting nature.  
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