The e-commerce moratorium, a major outcome of the Work Programme on E-commerce (WPEC) at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has been one of the driving forces of the growth of cross-border e-commerce in the world. In place since 1998, it has been renewed at successive ministerial conferences (MC) until MC 14 held during March 26-31, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A lack of consensus amongst members led to the lapse of not only the WPEC but also the moratorium.
After MC14, several WTO members, including the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and others, indicated their intention to continue maintaining duty-free treatment for electronic transmissions amongst themselves. This has raised important questions regarding the future governance of digital trade and the evolving architecture of international rule-making in this area. While India has not participated in these plurilateral agreements, as one of the largest exporters of digitally delivered services (DDS) in the world, it has significant stakes in the evolution and growth of global DDS. With concerns regarding the loss of flexibility in the domestic policy space due to the moratorium remaining relevant, the rapid evolution of technology, alongside shifting business and production processes, necessitate a proactive role of India at the global fora.
It is in this context that this policy brief presents a chronology of e-commerce moratorium related discussions at the WTO and its status, highlighting India’s position. Given that India agreed to extending the moratorium until 2030, underlining a major shift in its previous positioning, becoming much more aligned to the priorities of its industry stakeholders like NASSCOM, the Policy Brief made recommendations on the way forward that prioritised Indian business interest.
