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In a recent whitepaper, we undertook a comparative analysis of e-commerce provisions in a few prominent FTAs, and provided key takeaways for WTO’s on-going plurilateral e-commerce negotiations. Download our white paper here. Background Over the last two decades, electronic commerce (e-commerce) provisions in free trade agreements (FTAs) have gained prominence. This is mainly due toRead more

Background In recent years, proponents of data globalization have been at loggerheads with the proponents of data localization. The former have been promoting free and open flow of data across borders, while the latter have been adopting measures curtailing cross-border data flow citing privacy and security concerns. These data localization measures broadly restrict or prohibitRead more

As we have discussed in our earlier piece, here, in 1998, the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) established a comprehensive work programme on electronic commerce (e-commerce) (hereafter, WorkProgramme) to examine all trade-related issues concerning e-commerce.[1] The Work Programme, apart from allocating four WTO bodies to examine specific issues concerning e-commerce,[2] allowed theRead more

On the occasion of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, 2019, 76 Member countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), decided to formally initiate negotiations towards a plurilateral legal framework regulating electronic commerce (e-commerce). This decision was taken after more than two decades of oscillation between dialogue and deadlock is the e-commerce discourseRead more

The pandemic has pushed through many changes, some of which are likely to stay. That state governments are finally opening up to the idea of liquor e-commerce is one such change. Some states had been toying with the idea, but the crowds seen at liquor vends (when lock-down restrictions were eased), forced the hand ofRead more

A new two percent ‘equalization levy’ applies to e-commerce operators servicing Indian residents with effect from 01 April 2020.[1] India also made a fundamental departure from existing international tax principles, in introducing provisions that will deem income on account of significant economic presence in India to accrue in India with effect from 01 April 1Read more

Over the past few years, there has been a substantial increase in parliamentary activity focused on technology related issues, especially in terms of parliamentary questions raised by Members of Parliament (“MPs”) in different sessions of Parliament of India. This was also true for the recently concluded budget session held in two phases from 31 JanuaryRead more

Since the past 3 (three) years, food deliveries have almost become an intrinsic part of our lives. Growing at a rate of 12% annually, food deliveries today comprise of 29% of a restaurant’s total revenue[1] and service 182 million users.[2] Economical meals, availability of multiple cuisines, and promotional schemes have all been instrumental to thisRead more

This article argues that India’s draft National E-Commerce Policy will harm its startups. An edited version of this article was first published in the Economic Times on Saturday, 16 March 2019. The version published by the Economic Times is also available online, here.   About two months from now, the US government will start to imposeRead more

  Position of Regulators Dharmendra Pradhan, the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, had first floated the idea of incorporating e-commerce into fuel delivery via a series of tweets on April 21 last year.[i] As per his tweets, door-to-door delivery of petro-products on pre-booking would help consumers save time and avoid long queues at petrolRead more