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European Union Establishes Position on Electronic Commerce Agreement Incorporation into WTO

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Council of the European Union adopted a decision on May 12, 2025, establishing the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union in the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the incorporation of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the WTO Agreement. This decision comes after the Commission conducted negotiations on behalf of the Union and participating WTO Members agreed on the text of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce on July 26, 2024.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union will participate in a formal request to the General Council of the WTO to incorporate the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into Annex 4 to the WTO Agreement.
  • The European Commission will express the Union's position to join the consensus to incorporate the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into Annex 4 to the WTO Agreement.
  • The decision was taken after negotiations on behalf of the Union and participating WTO Members agreed on the text of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce on July 26, 2024.
  • The incorporation of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the WTO Agreement aims to bring WTO rules into line with the economic and trade realities of the 21st century.
  • The decision will enter into force on the date of its adoption.
  • The European Parliament and Council of the European Union consulted the European Data Protection Supervisor in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

Statistics:

  • 26 July 2024: Participating WTO Members agreed on the text of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce.
  • 12 May 2025: The Council of the European Union adopted the decision establishing the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union in the WTO.
  • 22 December 1994: Council Decision 94/800/EC concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community of the agreements reached in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations.
  • 21 November 2018: Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies entered into force.

Sources:

  • COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/915 of 12 May 2025 establishing the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union in the World Trade Organization as regards the incorporation of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization.
  • Council Decision 94/800/EC (of 22 December 1994) concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community, as regards matters within its competence, of the agreements reached in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations.
  • Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data.

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