E-commerce games
Red Book
Red Book

Pre-cum-Mains GS Foundation Program for UPSC 2026 | Starting from 5th Dec. 2024 Click Here for more information

E-commerce games

Issue:

  • India decided to stay out of the WTO e-commerce negotiations announced by about 75 members at the World Economic Forum in Davos

 Negotiation agendas:

  • Free flow of data located on computer servers without data localization requirements
  • Permanent moratorium on customs duties
  • Non-disclosure of source code
  • Prohibition of forced technology transfer

Reasons for India opted to stay out of E-commerce negotiation:

  • Not to be part of any plurilateral talks because such initiatives strike at the very root of multilateralism
  • India’s huge data reserve and its impact on real economy and management of data without compromising privacy and security considerations are still in progress
  • RBI’s recent policy mandating data localization through local servers would be challenged in such negotiation
  • Unsettled E-commerce regulations especially those related to foreign direct investment: marketplace and inventory model

Problems with E-commerce:

  • Highly asymmetrical space with a few dominant players having the potential to distort a level playing field
  • Definition and Meaning of e-commerce varies from one country to the other
  • E-commerce rules are yet at nascent stage

Way forwards:

  • India should manage its huge precious data resource on its own terms
  • Status-quo on e-commerce should be maintained till developing countries understand what is at stake in the area of global e-commerce rule-making
  • Provide weight to India similar stand on e-commerce issues at ongoing talk of RCEP
  • China is a proponent of e-commerce negotiations both at the WTO and RCEP is another reason for India to step carefully

Discover more from Free UPSC IAS Preparation For Aspirants

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Print Friendly and PDF
Blog
Academy
Community