The United States has sharply criticized the World Trade Organization (WTO) for failing to reach an agreement on a crucial e-commerce moratorium. Washington’s top trade official suggested that the global body’s influence in shaping international trade policy is limited.
United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer expressed his disappointment on Monday after the WTO’s ministerial conference could not secure an extension of the moratorium that exempts digital trade from customs duties.
Greer emphasized that the U.S. would pursue alternative agreements with countries that share its approach, reiterating that the WTO is unlikely to play a central role in future trade negotiations.
“I have long questioned the WTO’s effectiveness, and this week’s conference only reinforced that it will have a constrained role in global trade policy moving forward,” Greer stated.
The WTO talks collapsed during the four-day Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in Yaounde, Cameroon, which concluded without any major deals and exposed sharp divisions among member states.
The moratorium, in place since 1998, has allowed cross-border digital transmissions such as downloads and streaming to remain free of tariffs. Over the past three decades, the organization’s ministerial meetings have routinely extended the measure.
However, on Monday, the moratorium lapsed for the first time following a stalemate between the U.S. and Brazil. Negotiators had worked through Sunday to bridge the gap between Brazil’s proposed two-year extension and the U.S.’s push for a permanent arrangement, even considering a four-year compromise with a one-year sunset clause.
Brazil later suggested a four-year extension with a mid-term review, but it failed to gain sufficient support. Ultimately, both Brazil and Turkey blocked the measure.
In response, Greer highlighted that the U.S. has secured pledges from dozens of countries, including most major trading partners, not to impose tariffs on American digital exports.
“If the WTO cannot achieve this basic goal, the United States will pursue agreements outside the organization with willing partners. We invite all trading partners to join a plurilateral e-commerce moratorium,” Greer said.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative and WTO Ambassador Joseph Barloon added that the U.S. is leading reform efforts within the trade body and intends to continue doing so.
Meanwhile, WTO officials confirmed that discussions will resume at its Geneva headquarters, likely extending through May.
“When talks resume in Geneva, we will build on recent progress while acknowledging the real limitations of what can be achieved at the WTO,” Barloon stated.