WTO Public Forum 2017: Making Cross-border e-Commerce work for consumers
Consumers International hosted a working session on cross border e-Commerce at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Public Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.
Global B2C e-Commerce is predicted to double from US$1.2 trillion in 2013 to US$2.4 trillion in 2018, and $1.2m is already spent online every 30 seconds.
Consumers International’s session; Making Cross Border e-Commerce Work for Consumers, explored different perspectives and asked what ‘good’ might look like in terms of cross border e-commerce for consumers, citizens, businesses and nations.
Debates around e-commerce and trade have intensified sharply since July 2016 when seven different proposals were made for WTO to begin new work on e-commerce. The explosion in e-commerce is already affecting the way governments around the world are thinking about trade, with digital provisions increasingly appearing in regional and bilateral deals. WTO members are firmly divided on whether new work should involve the negotiation of new WTO rules.
Consumers International’s Head of Digital Advocacy, Liz Coll, moderated the panel, and was joined by panellists from our members BEUC and VZBV, and by representatives from WTO, UNCTAD and the multinational e-commerce platform eBay.
Discussions covered topics ranging from the experience of European consumers shopping in global markets, to consumer protection challenges in developing countries and the role of ecommerce development.
The WTO 11th Ministerial meeting will be held in Buenos Aires from 10th to 13th December 2017. Prior to that a ‘Mini Ministerial’ will be held in Marrakech in October where the agenda for the ministerial will be set. It is not yet clear how e-commerce will be featured on the agenda but there is little doubt it will form part of discussions.
A full recording of the Consumers International session at the WTO public forum can be heard here.