India advocates for a reassessment of the impacts of the customs duties moratorium on e-commerce for developing and least developed nations within the World Trade Organization (WTO). This stance arises amidst efforts by developed countries to prolong the moratorium beyond March 31.
The matter was deliberated upon during a session of the e-commerce work program at the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference, which concluded on Thursday. India opposes extending the moratorium due to its detrimental effect, estimating tariff revenue losses of approximately $10 billion annually for developing nations, with India’s losses estimated at about $500 million each year. Extension of the moratorium requires a consensus decision, and countries have the option to refrain from imposing duties on e-commerce transmissions.
India underscores the potential of e-commerce to foster economic growth and prosperity for developing and least developed countries. It emphasizes that all policy alternatives, including the imposition of customs duties on e-commerce trade, should be accessible to WTO members to facilitate digital industrialization.
Presently, a handful of firms headquartered in developed nations dominate the global e-commerce landscape.
