USA / CAMEROON — The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon ended in impasse early this morning, after an agreement among 164 WTO members to extend the Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions to December 31, 2030, was blocked by Brazil and Turkey. The WTO’s failure also prevented moving forward with a US-driven reform agenda that all members endorsed.
“I am grateful to the host nation, Cameroon, for its warm hospitality and strong efforts to make the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization a success, but disappointed at the lack of seriousness of many members. The United States engaged for months ahead of MC14 to encourage WTO Members to embrace a broadly acceptable reform agenda. I have always been skeptical of the value of the WTO, and this week’s conference confirmed that this organisation will play only a limited role in future global trade policy efforts,” said ambassador Greer. “I, along with many ministers, left my capital during a particularly busy time and travelled long distances to participate in this ministerial, given its potential significance. I was disappointed that so few of my counterparts attended, despite their repeated assertions that the WTO is ‘at the core’ of the global trading system.
“It is particularly frustrating that the WTO could not achieve consensus to make the E-Commerce Moratorium permanent or even to extend it for longer than two years. Unfortunately, and despite revised US offers regarding the duration and format for an extension of the moratorium, two members would rather let it lapse after 28 years than do the right thing for innovation and the digital economy. Fortunately, the United States has secured commitments from dozens of countries—and nearly all of our major trading partners—not to impose tariffs on US digital transmissions. If the WTO cannot achieve this commonsense aim, the United States will work outside of the WTO with all interested partners to get it done. To that end, the United States invites all trading partners to commit to a plurilateral, e-commerce moratorium agreement,” said ambassador Greer.
“The United States has been leading the charge on reform and other crucial issues at the WTO, and we will continue to do so,” said deputy United States Trade Representative and ambassador to the WTO Joseph Barloon. “While we are gratified at the constructive engagement shown by many members at MC14—particularly our most important trading partners—we are disappointed that certain members rejected the proposed e-commerce moratorium decision. When we return to Geneva, we will build on what we have achieved in recent months, while recognising the very real limitations of what can be accomplished at the WTO.”
