   
  
WT/MIN(21)/ W/8 
 
26 November 2021  
(21-8945) Page: 1/1 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 30 November -3 December 2021  Original: English  
 
 
WORK PROGRAMME ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE1 
COMMUNICATION FROM INDIA , INDONESIA,  AND SOUTH AFRICA  
The following communication, dated 26 November 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation s of India , Indonesia,  and South Africa . 
 
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DRAFT MINISTERIAL DECISION  
The Ministerial Conference : 
 
Recalling  the "Work Programme on Electronic Commerce " adopted on  25 September 1998  and 
subsequent Ministerial Declarations and Decisions on the Work Programme,  
  
Concerned  with the deep digital and technological divide afflicting developing and least developed 
countries and noting the need to address the same,  
  
Recognising  the uneven spread of global electronic commerce and inequitable gains arising from the 
digital econom y, 
  
Acknowledging  the importance of work under the Work Programme in examining trade -related issues 
relating to global electronic commerce, taking into account the economic, financial, and development 
needs of developing countries,  
 
Decides as follows:  
 
We agree to re -invigorate the work under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, including 
the development -related issues under  it, based on the mandate set out in WT/L/274. We instruct 
the General Council to hold periodic reviews in its sessions of July  and December 2022  and 
July 2023 based on the reports that may be submitted by the WTO bodies entrusted with the 
implementation of the Work Programme and report to the next session of the Ministerial  Conference . 
 
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1 This document was or iginally issued as WT/GC/W/83 8 on 18 November  2021. It was further revised to 
include additional co -sponsors.   