Q1/2021 - Welthandelsorganisation (WTO)

Joint Statement Initiative on e-Commerce, 16. März 2021

Am 1. März 2021 hat der WTO-Rat entschieden, die 12. WTO-Ministerkonferenz, die für den Juni 2021 in Nur-Sultan/Kasachstan geplant war, erneut zu verlegen. Der neue Termin ist 30. November – 3. Dezember 2021 in Genf. Die Konferenz wird geleitet von Kasachstans Handelsminister Baqyt Sultanow. Es wird erwartet, dass der neue Vertrag zum digitalen Handel bis Ende November 2021 unterschriftsreif ist[1].  


Bei einem Treffen der WTO-Verhandlungsgruppe zur „Joint e-Commerce Initiative“, die zu einem Abkommen über den digitalen Handel führen könnte, wurden am 16. März 2021 Fortschritte vermeldet[2]. Die Thematik ist in zehn Verhandlungsuntergruppen aufgeteilt. In den Bereichen „online consumer protection, paperless trading, open government data, source code, open internet access, electronic signatures and authentication“ liegen mittlerweile Textentwürfe vor. Zum Thema „digital trade facilitation and logistics”, das auch die kontroverse Frage der Zölle auf grenzüberschreitende digitale Dienstleistungen enthält, gab es eine ausführliche, aber konstruktive Diskussion. Die beiden Co-Vorsitzenden der WTO-Verhandlungsgruppe, Botschafter George Mina (Australien) und Botschafter Hung Seng Tan (Singapur), forderten die WTO-Mitglieder auf, in ihren Anstrengungen nicht nachzulassen, um bis zur 12. WTO-Ministerkonferenz Ende November 2021 ein unterschriftsreifes Ergebnis vorlegen zu können. 

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  1. [1] Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference, 1. März 2021, in https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/mc12_e/mc12_e.htm
  2. [2] Co-convenors of e-commerce negotiations: We are heartened by progress made so far, 16. März 2021: „The facilitators of small group discussions reported on the work undertaken in the last few weeks to bridge differences on text proposals covering online consumer protection, paperless trading, open government data, source code and open internet access. In addition, the facilitator of the group on electronic signatures and authentication reported that a clean text on this topic is within reach soon. The facilitators of the small group discussions said that their groups remain open and encouraged participation from all members. A proposal on the Information Technology Agreement was also reintroduced to members. Participating members had detailed discussion on the theme of “digital trade facilitation and logistics”, which forms part of the consolidated text shared with members in December 2020. The discussions covered eight subthemes which members did not have the chance to discuss in small group format last year. These themes include: de minimis (a threshold for low value goods below which customs duties or taxes will not be collected), customs procedures, improvements to trade policies, single windows data exchange and system interoperability (i.e developing and modernizing national single windows by using information technology to further facilitate trade in traditional and digital form), logistics services, enhanced trade facilitation, use of technology for the release and clearance of goods, and provision of trade facilitating and supportive services. Ahead of the discussion on digital trade facilitation and logistics, Hung Seng Tan (Singapore) as co-convener shared some guiding principles on the broader theme of trade facilitation under the joint initiative on e-commerce. Ambassador Tan said that members should keep up the ambition in the talks and ensure the initiative remains commercially meaningful to stakeholders by making sure the agreement addresses new realities and modern business needs. He stressed that provisions or proposals on the table under the trade facilitation theme should be ambitious and at the same time attract broad support from the membership.” In: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/ecom_16mar21_e.htm