On this page
What is the WTO E-commerce Joint Statement
The WTO E-Commerce Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) launched in 2017 as a discussion on the trade related aspects of E-commerce between a subset of WTO Members. This discussion led to negotiations between those Members for a new international treaty on digital trade.
After over five years of negotiations, participants reached a milestone in July 2024, achieving a stabilised text that reflects a balanced and inclusive outcome. The text of the Agreement can be found here and further information is available on the WTO’s website WTO | Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce(external link).
The Agreement addresses aspects of digital trade related to:
- building openness and trust in electronic commerce;
- creating an enabling environment for digital trade, and supporting regulatory coherence between Parties;
- supporting greater cooperation in specific sectors such as telecommunications; and;
- supporting economic development.
It also includes a permanent ban on customs duties being imposed on electronic transmissions from another Party, and protects Parties’ ability to take certain public policy actions to respond to issues such as consumer protection and the protection of personal information in the digital environment.
The Agreement, once implemented, can be expected to benefit consumers and businesses involved in digital trade, especially small and medium sized enterprises. It also serves as a global baseline for digital trade rules and promotes a stable, open, and transparent trading environment.
Why is the WTO E-commerce Joint Statement Initiative important for New Zealand?
Digital technology impacts on New Zealand and the rest of the world in many different ways. It drives the creation of new products, services, and business models. It is changing how people live their lives. And it is also changing how government makes decisions and interacts with society.
These changes have created both challenges and opportunities for the global trading environment, traditional trade rules and architecture, as well as domestic policy approaches. New Zealand has taken a leadership approach in advancing modern rules for digital trade, most prominently as a founding member of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (the DEPA). Our participation in, and ongoing support for, the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce reflects our commitment to updating the WTO rulebook to reflect modern business realities.
For more information on WTO e-commerce, visit the WTO website(external link) and for more information on the DEPA, see our DEPA page. For details on our upcoming trade policy events, see our public engagement on trade page.