Indian industry leaders discuss trade, e-commerce with WTO DG

The Dollar Business Bureau

Representatives of industry, including technology and online retail companies in India, on Wednesday discussed matters related to e-commerce and global trade with Roberto Azevedo, Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The roundtable meeting, held in New Delhi, was organised by the industry representative body International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and attended by Sunil Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprises and representatives of various companies such as Google, Paytm and Snapdeal.

The issues discussed related to setting up standards for e-commerce industry, challenges pertaining to businesses dealings due to differences in national or regional norms, facilitating services trade and future of the world trading system.

The meeting holds significance as developed member countries are pushing the trade body to initiate negotiations on an agreement on e-commerce in the WTO. These members are asserting to include e-commerce related disciplines in the ministerial meet of the WTO to be held in Argentina in December.

As per WTO, since 1998, its members have decided not to levy customs duties pertaining to electronic transmissions and also a work programme was created at the same time for clarifying the concepts and the impacts of this new trade area.