Abstracts
Abstract
This article analyzes the potential of the WTO's Joint Initiative on Electronic Commerce (JSI) as a catalyst for fostering e-commerce while meeting sustainable development issues. It explores the challenges of the transition from multilateralism to plurilateralism and traces the genesis of the Joint Initiative on Electronic Commerce. After providing an overview of the provisions of the draft agreement, the article aims to analyze the extent to which development issues have been taken into account by exploring the tensions arising from the negotiations. Inevitably, it identifies the major shortcomings that remain, particularly in terms of environmental sustainability and the inclusion of developing countries. Finally, looking to the future, the article examines the options for integrating this agreement into the WTO legal order.
Keywords:
- capacity building,
- e-commerce,
- inclusiveness,
- plurilateralism,
- sustainable development
Résumé
Cet article analyse le potentiel de l'Initiative conjointe sur le commerce électronique (JSI) de l'OMC comme levier pour promouvoir le commerce électronique tout en répondant aux enjeux de développement durable. Il explore les enjeux du passage du multilatéralisme au plurilatéralisme et raconte la genèse de l’initiative conjointe sur le commerce électronique. Après avoir dressé un panorama des dispositions du projet d’accord, l’article vise à analyser le niveau de prise en compte des enjeux de développement en explorant les tensions issues des négociations. Inévitablement, il dresse le constat des lacunes majeures persistantes, notamment en matière de durabilité environnementale et d'inclusivité des pays en développement. Enfin, de façon plus prospective, l’article interroge les options d’intégration de cet accord dans l’ordre juridique de l’OMC.
Mots-clés :
- commerce électronique,
- développement durable,
- inclusivité,
- plurilatéralisme,
- renforcement des capacités
Appendices
Bibliography
- Adlung, Rudolf et Hamid Mamdouh (2018). Plurilateral Trade Agreements: An Escape Route for the WTO?. Journal of World Trade. Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 85.
- Akman, Sait M. and al (2023). Making Plurilateral Initiatives Work for All : Reforming the WTO through Inclusive ans Development-Friendly Approaches. T20 Task Force 7, Policy Brief, May 2023.
- Alschner, Wolfgang (2024). E-Commerce or Digital Trade? Why the Difference Should Matter to Trade Lawyers. In David Collins, Michael Geist (editors). Research Handbook on Digital Trade, London : Edward Elgar, pp 54-72.
- Banga, Rashmi (2017). Rising Product Digitization and Losing Trade Competitiveness. UNCTAD Report No. UNCTAD/GDS/ECIDC/2017/3, Genève : United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
- Banga, Rashmi (2019). Growing Trade in Electronic Transmissions: Implications for the South, UNCTAD Research Paper No. 29, Genève : United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
- Basedow, Robert (2018). The WTO and the Rise of Plurilateralism: What Lessons Can We Learn from the European Union’s Experience with Differentiated Integration?. Journal of International Economic Law. Vol. 21, No. 2, p. 411.
- Bhagwati, Jagdish (2008). Termites in the Trading System. Oxford University Press.
- Bhagwati, Jagdish N, “The US Trade Policy : The Infatuation with FTAs”, Discussion Paper, (1995) Columbia University, online : <https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8CN7BFM>.
- Brown, Chad and Kathleen Claussen (2024). The Rapid Response Labor Mechanism of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. World Trade Review. Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 335.
- Ciuriak, Dan and Maria Ptashkina (2019). Leveraging the Digital Transformation for Development: A Global South Strategy for the Data-driven Economy. Centre for International Governance Innovation. Policy Brief No. 148.
- Collins, David (2025). Plurilateralism and the New Geoeconomics of International Law. Journal of World Investment & Trade. Vol. 26, No. 1, p. 54
- Deblock, Christian (2021). Les nouveaux accords commerciaux régionaux. Revue québécoise de droit international, Special Issue, 323.
- Dimitropoulos, Georgios, Richard C. Chen and Julien Chaisse (2025). Plurilateralism: A New Form of International Economic Ordering ?. Journal of World Investment & Trade. Vol. 26, No. 1.
- Gallagher, Peter and Andrew Stoler (2009). Critical Mass as an Alternative Framework for Multilateral Trade Negotiations. Global Governance. No. 15, p. 380
- Guan, Wenwei (2014). Consensus Yet Not Consented: A Critique of the WTO Decision-Making by Consensus. Journal of International Economic Law. Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 77.
- Hoekman, Bernard et Charles Sabel (2021). Plurilateral Cooperation as an Alternative to Trade Agreements; Innovating One Domain at a Time. Global Policy. Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 49.
- James, Deborah (2019). Global Civil Society Urges WTO Members to Abandon Digital Trade Talks. Center for Economic and Policy Research. Available online : https://cepr.net/publications/global-civil-society-urges-wto-members-to-abandon-digital-trade-talks/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Kelsey, Jane (2022). The Illegitimacy of Joint Statement Initiatives and their Systemic Implications for the WTO. Journal of International Economic Law. Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 2.
- Kolsky Lewis, Meredith (2025). Plurilateralism and Free Trade Agreements. Journal of World Investment & Trade. Vol. 26, No. 1.).
- Marceau, Gabrielle and Anand Nandakumar (2025). How Can the JSI on E-commerce Become Part of the WTO Framework ?. Global Trade and Customs Journal. Vol. 20, No. 5, p. 309.
- Matsushita, Mitsuo (2014). A View on Future Roles of the WTO: Should There Be More Soft Law in the WTO?. Journal of International Economic Law. Vol. 17, No. 3, p. 701.
- Pagani, Fabrizio (2006). Are Plurilateral Trade Agreements Possible Outside of the World Trade Organization. Journal of World Trade. Vol. 40, No. 5, p. 797.
- Panezi, Maria (2025). Good Will Hunting at the WTO: Is Plurilateralism Supporting or Undermining Multilateral Trade Governance. Journal of World Investment & Trade. Vol. 26, No. 1.
- Sabel, Charles and Bernard M Hoekman (2019). Open Plurilateral Agreements, International Regulatory Cooperation and the WTO. Global Policy. Vol. 10, No. 3, p.297
- Scott, James and Rorden Wilkinson (2012). The Politics and Perils of Plurilaterals. Economic and Political Weekly. Vol. 47, No. 43.
- Spencer, Thomas and Siddharth Singh (2024). What the data center and AI boom could mean for the energy sector. International Energy Agency, Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/commentaries/what-the-data-centre-and-ai-boom-could-mean-for-the-energy-sector [accessed 20 January 2025].
- Winslett, Gary (2017). Critical Mass Agreements: The Proven Template forTrade Liberalization in the WTO. World Trade Review. Vol. 17, No. 3, p. 405.
- Xiangchen, Zhang and Wang Jinyong (2019). Capacity Constraint: A Fundamental Perspective for the Development Issue at WTO. Journal of World Trade. Vol. 53, No. 1.
10.7202/1087395ar