WTO Meeting Ends Without Fresh Agreement On E-Commerce Tariff Exemptions
Delegates attend the WTO ministerial conference in Yaounde on March 26, 2026. (Photo by AFP) Crunch WTO talks in Yaounde failed to agree on an extension of a years-long moratorium exempting e-commerce from customs duties, dealing a setback to developed countries and to Washington in particular. Advertisement googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1672569656851-0"); }); The moratorium, which has been renewed every two years since it was introduced in 1998, is now set to lapse on Monday. READ ALSO: WTO Mulls Future Of Global Trade Under Cloud Of Mideast War Its expiration does not automatically trigger duties on digital trade, since WTO members can continue to individually choose not to impose customs duties on online goods and services ranging from e-books and music to telemedicine. Advertisement googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1672569913499-0"); }); The World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during the WTO ministerial conference in Yaounde on March 26, 2026. (Photo by AFP) WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala last Wednesday called for the Yaounde meeting to “launch the next chapter of the multilateral trading system” as ministers gathered in the Cameroonian capital for a key conference starting last Thursday, amid global economic turmoil linked to the Middle East war. “I think that’s because it’s tense in the global trading system.” Advertisement googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1672587799169-0"); }); Okonjo-Iweala called for the Yaounde meeting on Wednesday to “launch the next chapter of the multilateral trading system”. She slammed “the unilateralism we have been seeing”, decrying the “collective failure” of WTO members over the years to confront their concerns and frustrations. AFP Advertisement googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1672587060870-0"); }); Join Our Whatsapp Channel To join: Simply click on the link below & turn on notifications to get the latest updates Subscribe to Our Newsletter In This Article: Cameroon Diplomacy Trade WTO More Stories Global Trading System Hit By ‘Worst Disruption In 80 Years’, Says Okonjo-Iweala WTO Mulls Future Of Global Trade Under Cloud Of Mideast War EU Calls For Deep Reform Of World Trade Organization /* * * CONFIGURATION VARIABLES: EDIT BEFORE PASTING INTO YOUR WEBPAGE * * / var disqus_shortname = 'channelstelevision'; // Required - Replace example with your forum shortname / * * DON'T EDIT BELOW THIS LINE * * */ (function() { var dsq = document.createElement('script'); dsq.type = 'text/javascript'; dsq.async = true; dsq.src = '//' + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/embed.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(dsq); })(); Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.