Pakistan to skip WTO e-commerce meet— taking another step away from the West

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Pakistan to skip WTO e-commerce meet— taking another step away from the West

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  • Pakistan has decided not to take part in discussions on a global e-commerce policy at the World Trade Organisation.
  • Since January 25th, around 76 countries, including the US and China have been embroiled in negotiations to develop a framework for the regulation of the e-commerce industry.
  • Pakistan’s decision to not participate in the talks is confusing. Given that it is expected to record over $1 billion worth of e-commerce sales next year, it has a vested interest in adding inputs to the global framework.

In a move that could isolate it even further in the international community, Pakistan has decided not to take part in discussions on a global e-commerce policy at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), sources told Dawn, a local daily.

Since January 25th, around 76 countries, including the US and China have been embroiled in negotiations to develop a framework for the regulation of the e-commerce industry. These countries, which account for over 90% of global e-commerce transactions, are opting for a multilateral regulatory system given the fact that e-commerce transcends physical borders.

Pakistan’s decision to not participate in the talks is confusing. Given that it is expected to record over $1 billion worth of e-commerce sales next year, it has a vested interest in adding inputs to the global framework.

The move appears all the more ill-advised given that the government has taken so long on formulating its own national e-commerce policy. The current laws in Pakistan are reportedly insufficient when it comes to enforcing consumer protection rights, data security and dispute resolution.

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As Pakistan continues to raise the ire of Western countries, it will likely move closer into China’s embrace.

China has been taking a keen interest in Pakistan’s e-commerce sector. In May last year, Alibaba, an e-commerce giant, closed the acquisition of Daraz, the country’s leading online marketplace, as part of a plan to expand into Pakistan.

Last month, Pakistan decided against approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package to fix its external financing shortfall, opting instead for help from China and its Arab allies. In fact, just a few days ago, China approved a $2.5 billion loan to Pakistan to boost its forex reserves.


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