2. Preparing Nigeria for Digital Trade Within the WTO E-commerce Negotiations: Issues and Policy Directions

Legborsi Nuka Nwiabu, concept Note on Public–Private Dialogue (PPD) on Existing and Emerging Issues related to E-commerce and Digital Economy in Nigeria, submitted to Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, 2019.

Ibid.

EU as block, Canada and Australia became the early proponent that seeks to develop rules in the WTO to regulate e-commerce operations.

Albania; Argentina; Australia; Bahrain, Kingdom of; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; El Salvador; European Union; Georgia; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; Kuwait, the State of; Lao PDR; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia; Montenegro; Myanmar; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Norway; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Qatar; Russian Federation; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Turkey; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United States; and Uruguay issued a joint statement on the need to regulate e-commerce. The members recognized and agreed to take into account the unique opportunities and challenges faced by Members, including developing countries and LDCs, as well as by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, in relation to electronic commerce.

Nigeria and Benin Republic became the only two African countries that signed onto the Joint Statement in Argentina during the WTO 11th MC with a view to starting a formal negotiation on e-commerce rules.

Africa and the WTO’s E-commerce Agenda, Ashly Hope and Puseletso Sauli, 19th January 2018 cited from www.​tralac.​org on 30th May 2019.

King & Spalding LLP, 2019, ‘WTO Members Agree to Negotiate Rules on Global E-commerce’ cited from https://​www.​lexology.​com/​library/​detail.​aspx?​g on 8 June, 2019.

2018 NCC annual report cited from the Ernst & Young Research work on Digital Economy and value chain study.

NCC 2018.

2018 NCC Annual Report cited from Enrst and Young Research work on Digital Economy and Value Chain study.

Ibid

Update on Facilitating Broadband penetration to the National Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council, Danbatta U.G 2018.

EY report 2018 submitted to Growth and Employment (GEM) Project.

The EU via its communication agreed in a JOINT STATEMENT ON ELECTRONIC COMMERCE EU PROPOSAL FOR WTO DISCIPLINES AND COMMITMENTS RELATING TO ELECTRONIC COMMERCE. The EU proposed to negotiate a series of WTO disciplines and commitments relating to electronic commerce and telecommunications services, aiming to enhance regulatory predictability, and improve market access conditions, to be incorporated in the schedules of the individual Members. The EU and its Member States maintain the possibility to define and implement cultural and audio-visual policies for the purposes of preserving their cultural diversity, including by not taking commitments on audio-visual services.

USA recognize that economic growth and opportunities provided by digital trade and the importance of frameworks that promote consumer confidence in digital trade and of avoiding unnecessary barriers to its use and development.

Brazilian proposal is attached as annexure III.

Martin Luther Munu, 2019, ‘eCommerce and MSMEs: What Trade Rules Could Improve the Business Climate in Africa?’

Updating the Multilateral Rule Book on E-Commerce: WTO Paths Forward, ICTSD Policy Brief, 2018.

Updating the Multilateral Rule Book on E-Commerce: WTO Paths Forward, ICTSD Policy Brief, 2018.

Ibid.

This information is valid only as at time of writing the paper.

This is at the date of writing the paper—26th June 2019.

Wunsch-Vincent and McIntosh (2005).

Africa and the WTO’s E-commerce Agenda, Ashly Hope and Puseletso Sauli, 19th January 2018 cited from www.​tralac.​org on 30th May 2019.

International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Applied Science (IJSEAS) Volume 1, issue 3, E-commerce, Problems and Prospect in Nigeria, Ahmed Lawal and Richard Chukwu Ogbu, June 2015.

EY report 2018 submitted to Growth and Employment (GEM) Project.

List of the membership and the Terms of Reference is enclosed as annexure 1.