Press Releases
Issuance of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on E-commerce Statement by Ministers of Japan, Australia and Singapore (Statement by Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa)
December 14, 2021
- Today, Ministers of Japan, Australia and Singapore, co-conveners of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on E-commerce, have issued a joint statement (English (PDF)
/ Japanese (PDF)) concerning the relevant negotiation. This statement is very meaningful as it highlights the progress achieved by eighty-six participating Members to date and the way forward towards the conclusion of the negotiation, which has had its significance increased by the COVID-19 pandemic. - Although the 12th Ministerial Conference has been postponed, this negotiation on E-commerce remains one of the key areas for the WTO as an organization that promotes global trade. I believe it is important to continue delivering results from this negotiation, aiming for further progress in the next year.
- Japan has been advocating the concept of “Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT)” and sees significant value in realizing this concept. While maintaining inclusiveness for participating Members, Japan, as a co-convener of the initiative, will continue to accelerate the negotiation to achieve a high-standard outcome, including on the rules of free flow of data.