  
  
WT/GC/W/ 787 
21 November  2019 
(19-7990) Page: 1/2 
General Council  
9-11 December 2019  Original:  English/French  
 
  
WORK PROGRAMME AND MORATORIUM ON ELECTRONIC COMMER CE 
COMMUNICATION FROM  CHAD ON BEHALF OF TH E LDC GROUP  
The following communication, dated 14 November  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation  of Chad on behalf of the LDC Group.  
 
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As the expiration of the e -commerce decision approaches at the end of 2019, the  LDC Group calls 
on the four designated bodies under the Work Programme , to delve deeper into the benefits and 
costs of e-commerce for LDCs.  LDCs are interested in both aspects of this platform and the relevance 
of e-commerce in improving trade for LDC traders and consumers.  The LDC Group appreciates the 
submissions of others in the context of the Work Programme over recent  years, including those on 
data flows and on the customs duties moratorium.  
In its interventions regarding the Work Programme at the Council for Trade in Goods and the Council 
for Trade in Services, the LDC Group has identified some challenges for LDCs in the utilization of 
e-commerce for consideration in the WTO e -commerce Work Programme including the  follow ing: 
• Limited knowledge among enterprises, government players, and regulators of e -commerce;  
• Lack of mechanisms to start up enterprises in e -commerce bu siness;  
• Concerns about possible adverse effects of e -commerce and how to mitigate them;  
• Limited existence of and affordable information technology ( ICT) infrastructure (noted above, 
e.g., internet, broadband coverage, electricity, telecommunications infras tructure and 
services);  
• Access to credit cards (the main vehicle for on -line payments) and high incidence of unbanked 
consumers or limited experience with on -line payments;  
• Adequate facilities for physical delivery of purchases online;  
• User mistrust of qua lity and effectiveness;  
• Inadequate online payment facilities;  
• Trade finance for LDC e -commerce  enterprise s; 
• Limited skills among enterprises desiring to use e -commerce and ICTs strategically for B2B, 
B2C, or B2G buying and selling goods and services;  
• Lack of statistical data on electronic commerce in LDCs;  WT/GC/W/ 787 
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  • Weak legal and regulatory frameworks where needed for example consumer protection laws ; 
and 
• Lack of clarity on the natu re of electronic transmissions and the ability of LDCs to apply internal  
taxes versus customs duties, where appropriate.  
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