Business needs to be involved in government deliberations on issues of E-Commerce taxation, jurisdiction, intellectual property protection, and judicial and legal infrastructures. Minimalist approaches must be taken to using E-Commerce as a source of government revenue. Tax Policy should be neutral and as consistent as possible with existing domestic practice for non-electronic transactions. The practice of not imposing customs duties or other charges on electronic transmissions should be continued. Regulation should facilitate E-Commerce development.
Business needs to work with governments to assure credible and effective self-regulatory models.
PBEC welcomes the opportunity to work with APEC in 1999 on the implementation of the APEC blueprint, consistent with the principles outlined above.