India urges WTO to discuss digital infrastructure for fair e-commerce

India has urged World Trade Organization (WTO) members to begin discussions on promoting secure and interoperable digital public infrastructure (DPI) for e-commerce to prevent monopolistic market segmentation by big tech companies and support greater participation by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In a communication posted on the WTO platform, India proposed that members address existing gaps in digital infrastructure and technology access that limit the participation of developing and least developed countries in global e-commerce.

The proposal suggested that the WTO and the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) could play a role in bridging these gaps and facilitating collaboration on technology exchange platforms.

“International collaboration on DPI systems would address the issue of digital access and divide in the context of e-commerce and intellectual property,” India stated, adding that such systems enable scalable, inclusive and interoperable platforms for seamless transactions.

India highlighted that robust DPI can help developing economies engage more effectively in digital trade. It cited its own initiatives such as Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as examples of a successful DPI approach.

The submission also noted that discussions on e-commerce and TRIPS-related digital trade issues have seen limited progress in recent years. India said renewed dialogue linking DPI, TRIPS, and the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce is both relevant and timely.

(With inputs from agencies)