India & the World Trade Organization |
Global Electronic Commerce A Declaration on Electronic Commerce was adopted at the Second Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Geneva in May 1998 in recognition of the fact global electronic commerce is growing and creating new opportunities for trade. The Declaration launched a work programme on the subject in the WTO for making recommendations to the next ministerial conference of the WTO due in late 1999. The Declaration clearly stated that the work programme would take into account the development needs of developing countries. The declaration provides for a stand still on customs duties imposed on electronic transmissions so that the benefits of growth in this new area are equitably distributed, thus strengthening trade flows of all member countries. India made a detailed intervention on Electronic Commerce at the Special Session of the WTO General Council in September 1998 and is taking active part in the work programme on E-Commerce which is going on in the TRIPs Council, the Committee on GATS and the Committee on Trade and Development of the WTO. |