WTO Members Discuss E-commerce Legal Frameworks
Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2025 – Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) met today to review the legal and regulatory frameworks for e-commerce around the world. The meeting was part of the WTO’s ongoing work to facilitate and promote electronic commerce.
“E-commerce is growing rapidly and has the potential to make a significant contribution to economic growth and development,” said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “To ensure that e-commerce can reach its full potential, we need to have clear and transparent legal frameworks in place.”
The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including:
- The definition of e-commerce
- The legal frameworks for e-commerce, including laws on data protection, privacy, and consumer protection
- The regulatory frameworks for e-commerce, including measures to address issues such as counterfeiting, piracy, and spam
- The role of the WTO in promoting e-commerce
Members raised a number of important issues during the meeting, including:
- The need for a clear and consistent definition of e-commerce
- The need for legal frameworks that protect consumers and businesses
- The need for regulatory frameworks that are proportionate and do not unnecessarily restrict e-commerce
- The need for the WTO to play a role in promoting e-commerce and addressing the challenges that it faces
The meeting was part of the WTO’s ongoing work on e-commerce. In 2022, WTO members agreed to establish a working group on e-commerce to examine the issues and challenges related to e-commerce. The working group is expected to report back to the WTO General Council in 2025.
E-commerce is a rapidly growing area of commerce. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global e-commerce sales are expected to reach \$6.3 trillion by 2025. E-commerce has the potential to make a significant contribution to economic growth and development, by creating new jobs, increasing trade, and reducing costs for consumers and businesses.
However, the growth of e-commerce is also raising a number of challenges. These challenges include:
- The need for clear and transparent legal frameworks
- The need for regulatory frameworks that are proportionate and do not unnecessarily restrict e-commerce
- The need to protect consumers and businesses from fraud and abuse
- The need to address the digital divide and ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of e-commerce
The WTO is working to address these challenges and promote the growth of e-commerce. The WTO’s work on e-commerce is part of its broader efforts to promote economic growth and development.
Members review legal and regulatory frameworks for e-commerce
The AI has provided us with the news.
WTO a new article on 2025-02-17 17:00 titled “Members review legal and regulatory frameworks for e-commerce”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
109