WORLDWIDE COALITION CALLS FOR WTO POLICY AGENDA

TO ENHANCE GROWTH OF E-COMMERCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, November 19, 1999

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Diane Smiroldo, BSA, (202) 530-5136

Connie Correll, ITI, (202) 626-5725

Washington (Nov. 19)  --  In a unified effort to promote the growth of global electronic commerce, a wide range of international corporations, trade associations, and industry leaders released a “work program” today that, among other things, calls on the World Trade Organization Ministers to keep e-commerce barrier-free.

The work program is the result of a growing belief that all nations – whether developing or developed – stand to benefit from global e-commerce.  It is estimated that e-commerce will to grow to US $4 trillion by 2003 – just under half that amount will be from outside the United States.  But in order for those benefits to be fully realized, the Members of WTO need to address some policy issues.

The work program has garnered unparalleled support from around the world (list of supporters attached).  The program’s main focus is on the dynamic nature of the Internet and the need to keep e-commerce free from new regulations and trade barriers.

Supporters of the work program recommend a 9-point policy plan for Seattle:

1.       Make permanent and binding the May 20, 1998 Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions.

2.       Affirm that current WTO obligations, rules, disciplines and commitments made under GATT, GATS and TRIPS apply to electronic commerce, including:

·                     National treatment/non-discrimination

·         Most Favored Nation

·         Transparency, including with respect to domestic regulation

·         Notification, review, and consultation

3.       Agree to extend technical expertise to developing countries to ensure their full participation in the benefits of e-commerce.

4.       Agree to resist premature efforts to categorize electronic transmissions for trade-related purposes.

5.       Agree to refrain from enacting measures that have the effect of impeding, actually or potentially, international e-commerce.

6.       Agree that, when governments find it necessary to enact measures that may impede or threaten to impede international e-commerce, the measures adopted will be the least trade-restrictive means available.

7.       Agree to expand market access commitments for all modes of services delivery, particularly for cross-border and consumption abroad commitments (Mode 1 and Mode 2) in all sectors to further facilitate the growth and development of electronic commerce.

8.       Adopt and fully implement the Information Technology Agreement, the WTO agreement on financial services, and the WTO Agreement on Basic Telecommunications as well as the reference paper on an accelerated basis as a fundamental step to expand the benefits of electronic commerce.

9.       Continue the WTO Work Program on Electronic Commerce inter alia to identify, reduce and eliminate barriers to international electronic commerce.