The World Trade Organization failed to extend its long-standing moratorium on e-commerce tariffs at its 14th ministerial conference in Yaoundé after at least one member opposed making the ban permanent. The duty-free treatment for electronic transmissions, renewed every two years since 1998, is set to expire at the end of this month without a new agreement. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said discussions may continue in Geneva, while John Denton warned the lapse could create policy unc

The World Trade Organization failed to extend its long-standing moratorium on e-commerce tariffs at its 14th ministerial conference in Yaoundé after at least one member opposed making the ban permanent. The duty-free treatment for electronic transmissions, renewed every two years since 1998, is set to expire at the end of this month without a new agreement. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said discussions may continue in Geneva, while John Denton warned the lapse could create policy uncertainty and risk new tariff barriers on digital trade.