March 31, 2026

WTO fails to extend customs duty moratorium on e-commerce transmissions

The World Trade Organization's (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon ended in impasse this week, after an agreement among WTO Members to extend the Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions to December 31, 2030 was blocked by some countries.

The WTO moratorium has exempted data flows from cross-border tariffs since 1998 and has been renewed at Ministerial conferences since then. Failing to approve a renewal at the 14th conference implied expiry on March 30th.

The WTO's Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she hopes countries can restore the moratorium. Without it, members could apply customs duties on electronic transmissions like downloads and streaming. She noted this takes time to set up and expects members will be able to agree to restore the moratorium soon.