JOB/GC/155  
 
21 November 2017  
(17-6340) Page: 1/2 
General Council  Original: English  
 
WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC COMMERCE  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE AFRICAN GROUP1 
The following communication, dated 20 November 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Rwanda on behalf of the African Group.  
 
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DRAFT MINISTERIAL DECISION  ON ELECTRONIC COMMER CE 
Ministers,  
 
Recogni zing that global electronic commerce is growing rapidly and creating  an alternative means 
for trade;  
 
Committed to addressing the uneven spread of global electronic commerce and risk of disr uptive 
impacts;  
 
Committed to overcoming the digital and technological divide underlying digita l trade and 
electronic commerce;   
 
Recogni zing that diverse national measures are necessary to build national capabilities, with a view 
to promote inclusive, equ itable and sustainable growth;  
 
Recogni zing the need to clarify the treatment of electronic commerce in relevant WTO Agreements, 
and the broad interest of Members to continue examining all trade -related issues relating  to global 
electronic commerce;  
 
Resolve d to ensuring access to the Internet to more than half of the world’ s population who remain 
offline;  
 
Taking particular account of the economic, financial, and development needs of developing 
countries ;  
 
Recogni zing the valuable work being undertaken in o ther mult ilateral and international for a; 
 
Decide:  
 
1. To continue the work under the Work Programme  on Electronic Commerce since our last 
session, based on the existing mandate and guidelines, in the relevant WTO bodies as set out in 
paragraphs 2 to 5 of the Work Programme.  
2. To address all open issues in the relevant bodies, as provided for in paragraph s 2 to 5 of the 
Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, including but not limited to definition, classification and 
technological neutrality.  
                                               
1 This submission is without prejudice to the position of Nigeria.  JOB/GC/155  
 
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  3. To discuss, in the relevant bodies, the manner in which Members can preserve their right to 
regulate electronic co mmerce and consideration of all measures to promote national digital 
industrial development with a view to promoting inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth.  
4. To undertake, in the relevant bodies, a thorough examination of the opportunities and risks 
associated with digital transformation and electronic commerce.  
5. To discuss, in the relevant bodies, measures Members have taken and may take to  develop 
their national institutional regulatory capacity that ensure: the protection of information of all 
Members  and their citizens, including but not limited to mandatory disclosure of data; the 
disclosure of source codes; access to, and transfer of technology.  
6. To continue, in the relevant bodies, the practice of national experience sharing of inter alia : 
the hist orical development of the digital industry; the challenges and measures adopted to 
promote digital e conomy and electronic commerce.  
7. To instruct the General Council to hold periodic reviews in its sessions of Jul y and 
December  2018 and July 2019 based on th e reports that may be submitted by the WTO bodies 
entrusted with the implementation of the Work Programme and report to the next session of the 
Ministerial Conference.  
On the m oratorium, the African Group is  still discussing it in view of the revenue impl ications of 
the current moratorium on customs duties, particularly in the context of increasing digitization of 
goods and services. For these reasons, the renewal of the moratorium should not be seen as 
automatic.  
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