Singapore and 9 Nations Support Permanent Ban on Digital Transmission Tariffs Before WTO Meeting
On Mar 16, Singapore and nine other economies backed a proposal to make the WTO moratorium on electronic transmissions permanent. The group urged a ban on digital transmission tariffs covering software downloads, streaming and other digital products.
Declaration and meeting
The announcement followed a virtual Future of Investment and Trade Partnership meeting. The session was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong.
Delegates issued the Declaration on Strengthening the Rules-Based Trading System. It called for stronger global trade rules ahead of the WTO meeting in Yaounde.
Why the moratorium matters
The moratorium currently prevents tariffs on electronic transmissions. The International Chamber of Commerce said the measure cuts costs for small businesses and creators worldwide.
It is temporary and must be renewed at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference. That conference runs from Mar 26 to 29 in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Potential outcome
If ministers do not extend the moratorium, it will expire at the conference’s close. The FIT members urged WTO participants to agree on renewal.
Agreements and dispute settlement
FIT members pledged to advance a longer-term trade agenda. They recommended incorporating two agreements into the WTO legal framework.
- Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA). It aims to attract and retain more and higher-quality investment.
- E‑Commerce Agreement (ECA). It seeks an open environment for digital trade and to promote trust in e-commerce.
The partnership also pledged to improve dispute settlement. Members said they would make greater use of the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement, a temporary arbitration-based appeal route.
Endorsements and membership
The declaration was endorsed by Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand and Norway. Additional endorsers included Paraguay, Rwanda, Switzerland and Uruguay.
FIT also involves Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Morocco, Panama and the United Arab Emirates. The group was formed in September 2025.
Role of Singapore
Singapore serves as coordinating chair in the partnership’s inaugural year. The Ministry of Trade and Investment described the FIT Partnership as “agile and informal”.
The platform is non-binding. Members use it to coordinate on fair and open trade as markets face fragmentation.
Context and next steps
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala attended the partnership’s unveiling. FIT members aim to press for adoption of IFDA and the ECA at the WTO.
With the Yaounde meeting imminent, the group hopes to secure a renewal. The 9 nations’ push for a permanent ban on digital transmission tariffs will be a key test.
