JOB/SERV/296  
 
19 June 2020  
(20-4314) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Services  Original: English  
 
 
COMMUNICATION FROM AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL, CANADA, COLOMBIA, JAPAN,  
MEXICO, NEW ZEALAND, NORWAY, SINGAPORE AND THE UNITED KINGDOM  
EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS ON SUPPORTING DIGITAL CAPABILITY OF  
BUSINESS AND CONSUMERS  
The following communication, dated 18 June 2020, is being circulated to  the Members of the Council 
for Trade in Services at the request of the delegations of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Japan, 
Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore and the United Kingdom . 
 
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1.  Prior to COVID -19, trade in services was the fastest growing sector globally with commercial 
services exports increasing three times faster than  goods exports, measured by value.1 At the same 
time, the 2019 WTO World Trade report identified a move towards online services (‘mode 1’; 30% 
of trade in services in 2017). The pandemic has affected sectors including tourism, transport and 
distribution s ervices but the increase in delivery of online services is expected to continue.2  
2.  The trend towards online services, accelerated by the pandemic, presents both opportunities and 
challenges for business, consumers and governments.   
3.  Businesses have rapidl y responded to the changing operating environment caused by COVID -19 
and deployed digital solutions to support staff, serve customers, source alternate supply options, 
communicate with stakeholders and address operational and financial efficiency.  In many  countries, 
governments have sought to support these efforts or are taking steps to make it easier to buy and 
sell services and goods online. This also includes policies linked to the economic recovery from the 
pandemic.   
4.  The pandemic has also highlighted  the importance of digital inclusion and the challenges all 
countries are facing to address the digital divide. This is particularly felt by small suppliers and in 
developing and least -developed countries.  
5.  To assist governments in considering how to addre ss these issues, we propose that Members, 
through the CTS Work Programme on E -commerce, share information on current domestic programs 
seeking to increase digital capability and address the digital divide as they relate to e -commerce. In 
this way, we could  learn from each other’s experience and help capitals with information on best 
practice policy in this area.  
6.  To assist in generating discussion, we propose the following questions as a first step:  
• What are the challenges and opportunities for digital solutions and digital delivery of 
services?  
 
1 WTO World Trade Report 2019 https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/reser_e/wtr_e.htm .   
2 WTO Information Note on E -commerce, Trade and the COVID -19 pandemic 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_ e/ecommerce_report_e.pdf .   JOB/SERV/296  
 
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  • What are Members doing to address these challenges and harness these opportunities? 
For instance, what domestic programs, policies or practices have been or are being put in 
place to increase digital capa bility and address the digital divide as they relate to 
e-commerce, including any assistance to MSMEs?  
• Are Members undertaking cooperation activities to support digital capability and address 
the digital divide as they relate to e -commerce?  
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