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From 26 to 29 March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture participated in the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
During the conference, 66 WTO member states agreed on a roadmap for incorporating the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into WTO’s regulatory framework in the future. This agreement will help simplify digital trade by including provisions on electronic contracts and online consumer protection. Its aim is to create a safer and more reliable environment for international digital trade. At the same time, 25 WTO member states, including the EU, agreed to begin applying this agreement among themselves.
During the conference, WTO member states were unable to reach a common understanding on extending the moratorium on e-commerce – specifically, the exemption of electronic transmissions from customs duties – and on a work plan for WTO reform. Further work on these issues will take place at WTO headquarters in Geneva.
It is important for Latvia to maintain and strengthen a rules-based international trading system, in which the WTO plays a central role.
Prior to the conference, the EU Foreign Affairs Council held a meeting on the Common Commercial Policy, during which the issues to be addressed at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference were discussed and the Council’s conclusions were approved. Latvian representatives also participated in an event organised by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in solidarity with Ukraine, marking the fourth year since Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. Participants condemned Russia’s destructive actions, which have disrupted global supply chains and contributed to food and energy insecurity. These actions have particularly affected the most vulnerable countries that rely on stable agricultural markets.
Background information
Latvia has been a member of the WTO since 10 February 1999.
The WTO is an international organisation established in 1995 to promote international trade and regulate trade relations among its member states. The WTO has 166 member states, covering more than 98% of global trade.
The WTO Ministerial Conference takes place every two years and is the WTO’s main decision-making body.