WTO E-commerce Tariff Ban: India Signals Shift, US Pushes for Permanence

• Countries are working to bridge the gap between the U.S. and India on extending a global agreement to not impose tariffs on electronic transmissions.
• India may drop its opposition to a two-year extension of the e-commerce moratorium at the upcoming WTO meeting in Cameroon.
• The U.S. seeks a permanent extension of the ban, not a temporary one, to ensure predictability for major tech businesses like Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple.
• The extension of the e-commerce moratorium is seen as a key test for the WTO's relevance amid global trade turmoil.
• Some developing countries believe the moratorium deprives them of potential tax revenue, while the U.S. warns against using it as an excuse to undermine the WTO.