Current Discussions on Electronic Commerce in the WTO and Korea's Response

WTO 전자상거래의 논의동향과 대응방안

This paper is to analyzes the recent discussions in the WTO and to draw some basic policy implications for Korea concerning electronic commerce. To foster electronic transactions. the WTO agreement should establish a basic legal framework for international transactions to guarantee a stable and predictable environment. The member countries in the WTO, however, have not formed a consensus on the definition, classification, technological neutrality, and domestic regulations dealing with electronic commerce. Digital transfer and classifications of electronic transfer are the most difficult problems to be solved. The discussions on electronic commerce which had been on hold after the Seattle Ministerial is due to begin in a special working group of specialists. Electronic transactions in Korea have been increased rapidly and the implementation of concrete forms and rules of electronic commerce in the WTO will be influential to international trade as we to adopt them in the transactions. Therefore, we have to open our eyes to the trends of international discussions on this matter and to make our rules and laws of electronic commerce to the international levels.

전자상거래에 관련된 국제적 논의는 OECD 등을 중심으로 이루어져 왔지만 최근에는 WTO의 역할이 부각되고 있으며, WTO에서 전자상거래의 논의는 주로 국제무역 관련 이슈들을 중심으로 이루어지고 있다. 하지만 여전히 전자상거래의 분류문제, 서비스의 분류, 관세부과, 공급모드, 지적재산권 문제 등 해결해야 될 문제들이 여전히 남아 있다. 이에 따라 우리도 전자상거래 관련 규정들을 마련하고 있으나 국제적으로 적용하기에는 한계가 있어 이를 발전시키고 활성화하기 위한 법제도 마련과 전략이 요구된다.