WTO E-commerce Duty Moratorium Expires After Deadlock

The global moratorium on e-commerce duties, which has historically prohibited the application of customs tariffs on digital transmissions such as streaming services and software downloads, has officially expired. The lapse occurred after World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations held in Cameroon concluded without reaching an agreement for an extension.

The expiration follows a deadlock in discussions between the United States and Brazil. The two nations were unable to find common ground regarding the duration of a potential renewal, with disagreements specifically focusing on whether to maintain the moratorium for longer than two years.