WTO talks stalled going into final day amid US-India e-commerce deadlock

Talks to reform the World Trade ​Organization and extend a moratorium to not impose customs duties on electronic transmissions such as digital downloads ‌entered their final day on Sunday with no breakthrough yet in sight, diplomats said, Report informs via Reuters.

Trade ministers are working at a WTO meeting in Cameroon to close the gap between the United States and India over extending the e-commerce moratorium due to expire this month, three diplomats ​told Reuters.

Extending the moratorium is seen as a test for the WTO's relevance, following a year ​of tariff-fuelled trade turmoil and major disruptions due to the Middle East conflict.

India indicated it would ⁠accept a extension of two years, three diplomats said. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, however, has said ​Washington was not interested in a temporary extension to the ban, only a permanent one.

Business leaders say an extension is ​critical to guarantee predictability, fearing duties could otherwise be introduced.

There are suggestions the US could accept a "pathway to permanence" with a 10-year extension, a Western diplomat said. A second said a five- to 10-year extension was being explored, while a third indicated it ​was unlikely all WTO members would agree to go beyond two years.

A new draft document seen by Reuters ​on Saturday evening proposes support for developing country members, as well as a review clause.

Extending the moratorium permanently would give the US ‌confidence to ⁠remain "fully engaged" in the trade body, the US Ambassador to the WTO, Joseph Barloon, told Reuters ahead of the talks.

"If the moratorium does not get extended, the US will use it as an excuse to beat the WTO on the head," a fourth senior diplomat said.