Argentina: 23 WTO members issued joint statement committing to maintain moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions

On 1 April 2026, a group of 23 WTO member countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Norway, Japan, United States and United Kingdom issued a joint statement committing to maintain the practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions among themselves, following the failure to extend the e-commerce moratorium at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC 14) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The commitment applies to all digital trade conducted through electronic transmissions, defined as any transmission made using electromagnetic means, including its content, and is intended to benefit businesses and consumers engaged in cross-border digital commerce across countries. The statement mirrors the compromise text advanced at MC14, which had been supported by nearly all WTO Members and over 100 global business groups advocating for a permanent moratorium. The commitment is temporary and will remain in place until the next WTO General Council meeting.