Listen to this article:

The WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from March 26–29, ended without agreement on key issues, pushing decisions back to Geneva.

Talks remained stuck on the e-commerce moratorium and institutional reform, with members agreeing to carry forward draft texts to the next General Council meeting.

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged how close members had come to a deal, but conceded failure to reach consensus. “We are very close to a Yaoundé package… but we are not all the way there yet,” she said, adding that members would preserve draft outcomes—including decisions on WTO reform, electronic commerce, TRIPS non-violation complaints and an LDC package – as the basis for future negotiations in Geneva.

The outcome makes MC14 one of the most inconclusive ministerials in recent years, highlighting deep divisions over the future of the multilateral trading system.

E-commerce moratorium expires

At the heart of the deadlock was the WTO’s moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, in place since 1998. The US, backed by the EU and Japan, pushed for a long-term or permanent extension. India and other developing countries opposed this, arguing it would lock in revenue losses and shrink policy space in a fast-growing digital economy. Brazil also opposed the US proposal – including a four-year extension – citing lack of progress in agriculture talks. With no agreement, the moratorium lapsed for the first time in 26 years, opening the door for countries to impose tariffs on digital transmissions.

Most gains from waiving such duties accrue to........

© The Wire