Hong Kong’s secretary for commerce and economic development, Algernon Yau Ying-wah, speaks at a meeting on e-commerce during the 13th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on Feb 29, 2024. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s commerce chief has called on members of the World Trade Organization to answer the calls of the global business community to ensure a predictable and tariff-free environment for the continued development and prosperity of digital trade.

Algernon Yau Ying-wah made the call on Thursday at a session on e-commerce at the 13th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

E-commerce is rapidly developing and has become a key driving force for global trade and economic growth, highlighting the importance of maintaining an enabling environment for international e-commerce to flourish, said the secretary for commerce and economic development.

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Noting that the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission has played a pivotal role in underpinning the stability and predictability for e-commerce in the past quarter century, he reaffirmed the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's strong support for the extension of the moratorium.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau (left) meets with the Federal Minister of Labour and Economy of Austria Dr Martin Kocher (right), on the sidelines of the 13th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi on Feb 29, 2024. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

Yau also held a bilateral meeting with the Federal Minister of Labour and Economy of Austria Dr Martin Kocher and exchanged views on issues of mutual interests on the sidelines of the MC13.

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After attending the MC13, he will proceed to Manama, Bahrain on March 2.