On March 28, the co-conveners of the WTO negotiations on e-commerce—Australia, Japan, and Singapore—issued a joint press release in Yaoundé, Cameroon, announcing the establishment of interim arrangements for the WTO Agreement on Electronic Commerce. Ministers from participating parties, including China, the European Union, The Gambia, and the United Arab Emirates, have issued written remarks of support.

In his written remarks, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said that the E-commerce Agreement establishes global rules for digital trade, which will effectively promote more inclusive and sustainable growth in the sector. China supports the timely implementation of the agreement and hopes that the WTO can play a greater role in shaping global digital trade rules.

The E-commerce Agreement represents a significant milestone for the WTO in recent years. At the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, 66 members, including China, announced that the interim arrangements would provide a pathway to bring the Agreement into force, while continuing to work toward its incorporation into the WTO legal framework of rules. The participating members will proceed with their respective domestic procedures, and the Agreement will enter into force formally after 45 members have deposited their instruments of acceptance. (Released on March 28)