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DRAFT RECOMMENDATION ((13403/2026 – C10-0257/2026 – 2026/0191(NLE))

On the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce

INTA-PR-796279

Committee on International Trade · Rapporteur: Brando Benifei

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 28 Oct 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The draft report recommends that Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce (ECA), a plurilateral agreement among World Trade Organisation (WTO) members. It says the ECA sets a first global baseline of rules for digital trade: electronic contracts, signatures, invoicing and payments, paperless trade, and safeguards on consumer protection, cybersecurity and personal data. It notes the agreement was agreed by 67 WTO members on 28 March 2026 as interim arrangements, and enters into force 30 days after the 45th instrument of acceptance is deposited. The report sets out Parliament's priorities for implementation: continued oversight, preserving the EU's regulatory autonomy, and addressing development concerns.

Committee position. The rapporteur recommends that the Committee on International Trade give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce, and sets out Parliament's priorities for its implementation.

Key points

  1. Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce.
  2. The ECA establishes a first global baseline of rules for digital trade, combining trade facilitation with trust online and support for economies at different levels of development.
  3. The report cites that digital trade accounts for around one quarter of international trade and digitally delivered services more than half of global services exports.
  4. It argues open plurilateral agreements advance common standards when WTO-wide consensus is elusive, and that supporting them is an investment in multilateralism's relevance.
  5. On 28 March 2026, 67 WTO Members representing approximately 70% of global trade agreed interim arrangements; the ECA enters into force 30 days after the 45th instrument of acceptance is deposited.
  6. The report says interim implementation must remain an open, transitional step towards WTO incorporation and broader participation.
  7. It finds the agreement can lower administrative costs and uncertainty for businesses, especially smaller exporters, by recognising electronic contracts, authentication and signatures and facilitating electronic invoicing, payments and paperless trade.
  8. It states consumers should enjoy no lower level of protection online than offline, citing provisions on fraudulent and deceptive practices, redress, unsolicited commercial communications, cybersecurity cooperation and personal data protection.
  9. It notes flexibility, needs assessments, technical assistance and capacity building for developing and least-developed countries, and that the prohibition of customs duties on electronic transmissions does not prevent domestic taxation.
  10. It asks that Parliament be kept fully informed and involved throughout implementation and any future negotiations on additional disciplines, which must preserve the EU's ability to protect fundamental rights, consumers and the public interest.
  11. It calls for promoting high standards on data protection, fair competition, online consumer protection including for minors, and trustworthy artificial intelligence, with regulatory cooperation fostering interoperability without weakening safeguards.
  12. It says implementation must translate commitments into tangible development benefits so that participation in digital trade extends beyond economies already equipped to benefit.

Who is affected

  • EU businesses, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and smaller exporters, for whom the report says the rules lower costs and barriers.
  • Consumers, who the report says should have no lower level of protection online than offline.
  • Developing and least-developed countries, which receive implementation flexibility, needs assessments, technical assistance and capacity building.
  • The European Parliament, which the report says must be kept fully informed and involved throughout implementation.

Figures and deadlines

  • Around one quarter of international trade is digital trade.
  • More than half of global services exports are digitally delivered services.
  • 28 March 2026: date on which 67 WTO Members agreed interim arrangements.
  • 67 WTO Members representing approximately 70% of global trade agreed the interim arrangements.
  • The ECA enters into force 30 days after the 45th instrument of acceptance is deposited.

Legal basis: Article 207(4), first subparagraph, and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.