Release of Ten ‘Quick Wins’ for Digital Trade

The outcomes of the World Trade Organization (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference  reflect the willingness of members to strike compromises in order to reach tangible outcomes. Importantly, members agreed to intensify discussions on the moratorium on e-commerce duties. These discussions should prompt a broader dialogue about the importance of digital trade to the modern global economy, but Members should not miss the opportunity to advance negotiations on digital trade more broadly.

Creating new rules on digital trade at the WTO will not be an easy endeavor, but a failure to do so will only lead to increasing global fragmentation of rules in the digital space. As WTO members roll up their sleeves yet again to build upon the success of MC12, they should take the vast body of research and expertise on digital trade into account. In addition to the efforts already underway in a range of trade agreements, members should tap into international and non-governmental organizations, industry, academics, and policy experts who will have valuable ideas to bring to the discussion.  

This TradeExperettes report, “Ten ‘Quick Wins’ for Digital Trade,” brings together academics, policy experts, international bureaucrats, private sector representatives and independent consultants to offer practical suggestions for how to grow economic opportunities for digital trade for all WTO members. It is a timely contribution to ongoing dialogue on digital trade and outlines a set of priorities that members should seize upon to transform their ambitions into action.

We invite you to read the report and join the conversation.