WTO talks end in deadlock after Brazil blocks deal on e-commerce duties

Record ID: 2372348

  • Title: WTO talks end in deadlock after Brazil blocks deal on e-commerce duties
  • Date: 30th March 2026
  • Summary: YAOUNDE, CAMEROON (MARCH 30, 2026) (REUTERS) WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA, AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA, SAYING:  “We’re negotiating the extension of the e-commerce moratorium and that again, that’s when we ran out of time but making very good progress with some ver
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  • Keywords: Cameroon Closing ceremony Ministerial conference Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala WTO WTO Director-General Yaounde
  • Location: YAOUNDE, CAMEROON
  • City: YAOUNDE, CAMEROON
  • Country: Cameroon
  • Topics: Africa,Government/Politics,International Trade
  • Reuters ID: LVA001844629032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:World Trade Organization talks ended deadlocked early on Monday (March 30) as Brazil blocked a bid by the U.S. and other countries to extend a moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, dealing a fresh blow to the embattled trade body.
    WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the e-commerce moratorium had expired, meaning countries could apply duties on electronic goods such as digital downloads and streaming. But she said the WTO hoped to be able to restore the moratorium and that Brazil and the U.S. were trying to reach agreement on it.
    "They need more time and we didn't have the time here," she said.
    Expectations had been low going into the meeting, but failure to even agree an extension to the e-commerce moratorium was a serious setback to the WTO, which has been struggling to remain relevant as countries increasingly work around it.
    The marathon talks at the meeting in Cameroon did make progress on drafting a plan for broader reform of the organization, though agreements are still pending.
    WTO talks would continue in Geneva, said the conference chair, Cameroon Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana. They are expected to be in May, WTO officials said.
    (Production: Kouam Joel Honore, Shung Sin Tan)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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