Considerations on COM(2019)165 - Supplement to the negotiating directives for the Doha Development Agenda regarding the plurilateral negotiations of rules and commitments on electronic commerce

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dossier COM(2019)165 - Supplement to the negotiating directives for the Doha Development Agenda regarding the plurilateral negotiations of rules ...
document COM(2019)165 EN
date April  2, 2019
 
(1) On 13 December 2017, at the Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), 70 Members of the WTO adopted a Joint Statement on Electronic Commerce 11 to initiate exploratory work towards future WTO negotiations on trade-related aspects of electronic commerce.

(2) On 25 January 2019, 76 Members of the WTO confirmed their intention to commence WTO negotiations on trade-related aspects of electronic commerce. 12

(3) Under the Doha Development Agenda, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations in the World Trade Organisation, and addressed directives to the Commission, inter alia on trade in services, trade facilitation and the progressive liberalisation of trade rules.

(4) The adoption of supplementary negotiating directives is necessary to further frame the position of the Union in the WTO negotiations on trade-related aspects of electronic commerce.

(5) Pursuant to Article 218(4), the Trade Policy Committee should continue to be designated as the committee in consultation with which the negotiations shall be conducted.