Answer

World Trade Organization

Electronic Commerce

Global Electronic Commerce was adopted in September 1998 by the General Council of World Trade Organization (WTO). Electronic commerce refers to the production, distribution, marketing, sale, or delivery of goods and services by electronic means. The General Council plays a central role and keeps the work programme on electronic commerce under continuous review.

With regard to electronic commerce, the WTO is doing much to ensure that this area is growing globally. Based on recent reports (30 November 2015) submitted by the WTO bodies responsible for implementing electronic commerce programme, the General Council was asked to continue its periodic reviews of the work programme on e-commerce. The WTO members agreed on a draft decision on electronic commerce. Some of the decisions made by the Ministerial Conference include; continuing to work under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, to instruct the General Council to hold periodic reviews in its sessions, and urging members to maintain the current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions. The WTO has a dispute settlement body for resolving trade quarrels arising among different states.

I believe that WTO is effective in its efforts because it perform periodic reviews to assess the progress, successes and failures of the organization. WTO also has four bodies charged with the responsibility of carrying out the electronic commerce Work Programme.

Electronic commerce has the potential of bringing many benefits to developing country producers. However, a number of developing countries are still lagging behind the developed markets as a result of inadequate technical requirements for e commerce. WTO therefore, should facilitate the acquisition of technical requirement needed for e-commerce and skilled workforce to execute the work.