WTO extends digital trade moratorium at Abu Dhabi conference

The World Trade Organization’s thirteenth ministerial conference concluded in Abu Dhabi on 2 March 2024. Members adopted a declaration on the multilateral trading system and decisions covering areas including development and dispute reform. They also agreed to continue the practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until the next ministerial conference or 31 March 2026, whichever came first.

Digital trade remains time-limited

The extension preserved the moratorium on electronic transmissions while leaving a deadline for further negotiation. Businesses gained continuity under the agreed terms, but members did not settle the arrangement permanently. The outcome reflected a broader feature of the conference: agreement on specific decisions alongside unfinished work on the trading system.