Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Digital Trade Agreement: WTO Joint Initiative on Electronic Commerce

26 July 2024 · Department for Business and Trade

Proposed by Jonathan Reynolds Lab Co-op Stalybridge and Hyde

Business & Trade

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The UK has joined the Joint Initiative on Electronic Commerce at the WTO along with 90 other countries.
  • The process to incorporate the Joint Initiative into the WTO legal framework will begin soon.
  • The initiative aims to enhance UK GDP by improving global trade in goods, services, and information.

Issue summary

The UK has joined the Joint Initiative on Electronic Commerce, a global digital trade agreement negotiated at the World Trade Organization (WTO) with 90 other countries.

Action requested

The process to incorporate the JI into the WTO legal framework will commence shortly, and it will then be laid before Parliament for domestic ratification. The initiative aims to boost UK GDP by improving global trade in goods, services, and information.

Key facts

  • Global digital trade is worth £4 trillion.
  • Exports of digitally-delivered services amounted to £252 billion in 2021.
  • The JI will be laid before Parliament for domestic ratification.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy