| In order to promote the globalization of e-commerce,76 WTO members jointly issued the "Joint Declaration on E-commerce" in 2019,which opened the prelude to a new round of e-commerce issues negotiations and determined the focus of the new round of WTO e-commerce issues negotiations,including both e-commerce facilitation issues and new issues of higher standards of digital trade.According to the relevant discussions and the observation of proposals made by all parties concerned,although the main WTO members have reached a basic consensus on advancing the negotiations on WTO e-commerce issues,due to the differences in the development level and interest orientation of each member,the parties have great differences on the issues of e-commerce,e-commerce taxation,cross-border data flow,identification of the status of developing countries,network security and so on,and interests and strategies are interwoven and looming.In view of the negotiations in the key areas of e-commerce,based on China’s current e-commerce development practice,with the goal of promoting the development of China’s cross-border electronic commerce,actively put forward a plan in line with China’s interests.For the qualitative problem of e-commerce,China should consider it according to different situations,e-commerce for online ordering and offline delivery should belong to goods trade,and e-commerce involving digital products and services delivered online should be included in service trade.On the issue of taxation of electronic commerce,the distribution of electronic transmission tax and digital fair tax should be discussed on the basis of respecting the tax sovereignty of countries,so as to safeguard the interests of developing countries and prevent a new "digital divide".On the issue of cross-border data flow,we should focus on the current development of China’s data industry,attach equal importance to safety and development,implement classified and classified management of cross-border data,promote orderly and free cross-border data flow according to law,and explore a benefit sharing model of data resources to resolve differences or conflicts.In view of the phenomenon that western countries use the "national security exception" clause to suppress China’s e-commerce,while firmly protecting the cyber space security and avoiding the abuse of the "national security exception" clause,China should also make reasonable use of the clause for "self-protection".As for the differences in the recognition of developing countries’ status,we can take countermeasures such as renewing the recognition standards of developing countries’ status,and at the same time construct a new mode of developing countries’ economic development.China is not only the fastest developing country in e-commerce but also the largest developing country.The results of e-commerce negotiation will directly affect the future development of e-commerce in our country.Therefore,we should face up to the differences in WTO e-commerce negotiation and insist on WTO’ s leading position in e-commerce negotiation.China should also choose appropriate negotiation strategies in WTO e-commerce negotiations,not only to enhance China’s e-commerce development ability,establish a responsible image of a big country,and enhance the right to speak in negotiations,but also to respect the development differences among members and unite cooperative members with common interests,so as to reach a negotiation result that maximizes the interests of all members and effectively promote the negotiation process of WTO e-commerce issues. |
