The expansion of e-commerce and digital trade offers the potential to help micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) overcome the challenges of scale and distance, selling products direct to consumers online, and facilitate business-to-business transactions.
This presents particular opportunities for those who may have been disadvantaged or under-represented under traditional trading models, including women, Indigenous peoples and those in isolated rural areas.
At the same time, it is important to also understand the challenges that these communities face, many of these exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Properly designed trade policy instruments can contribute, including through the E-Commerce and MSMEs Joint Statement Initiatives, to maximising the opportunities and mitigating the challenges.
Key questions:
- How can e-commerce and digital trade support inclusive development, particularly for MSMEs, women, Indigenous peoples and those in isolated rural areas?
- What role is digital technology and e-commerce playing in economic recovery strategies through a MSMEs lens, with a particular reference to under-represented communities?
- How can the current negotiations under the WTO E-Commerce and MSMEs Joint Statements support inclusive growth?
In the second portion of the session, the floor will open for a moderated audience discussion guided by the question:
What practical steps can the multilateral trading system, and policymakers in other forums, take to support and facilitate e-commerce and digital trade?
Continue the conversation in the dedicated chat on the Beyond Trade Network.
This session will be simultaneously translated into French, Spanish and English (when needed) via the Interactio application, by entering the code GTW2020 (please use headphones). Open the application in your Web browser or download it for iOS Mobile App or for Android App.