March 31, 2026 | 08:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer criticized the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Monday after it failed to agree on the extension of a moratorium on customs duties for e-commerce at its top-level ministerial conference.
Greer vowed that Washington would seek alternative deals with like-minded nations, adding that he sees only a "limited role" for the global body that regulates international trade.
"I have always been skeptical of the value of the WTO, and this week's conference confirmed that this organization will play only a limited role in future global trade policy efforts," he said in a statement.
How Did the WTO Talks Fail?
The four-day Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the WTO — which took place in Yaounde, Cameroon — ended in an impasse on Monday with no major deals and a public display of deep divisions.
Since 1998, a WTO moratorium has exempted cross-border digital transmissions, including digital downloads and streaming, from taxes.
The last three decades have seen WTO ministerials — the organization's biennial decision-making body — extend the moratorium.
On Monday, the moratorium lapsed for the first time since it was introduced following a deadlock between the US and Brazil.
The tense negotiations saw diplomats working through Sunday to close the gap between Brazil's initial two-year proposal on the moratorium and the permanent extension sought by the US by drafting a plan for a four-year extension with a year's sunset buffer.
Brazil then put forth the offer of a four-year extension with a mid-term review clause, but the plan lacked ample support.
In the end, Brazil and Turkey blocked the extension.
What Has the US Said About WTO?
Greer said on Monday that he has secured commitments from dozens of countries — including nearly all of its key trading partners — not to impose tariffs on US digital transmissions.
"If the WTO cannot achieve this commonsense aim, the United States will work outside of the WTO with all interested partners to get it done. To that end, the United States invites all trading partners to commit to a plurilateral, e-commerce moratorium agreement," the US trade representative said.
Meanwhile, Deputy US Trade Representative and Ambassador to the WTO Joseph Barloon said that his country was leading the change on reform and other issues at the international trade body and will continue to do so.
WTO representatives said that talks will continue at the organization's headquarters in Geneva until at least May.
"When we return to Geneva, we will build on what we have achieved in recent months, while recognizing the very real limitations of what can be accomplished at the WTO," Barloon said.
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