The topic of electronic commerce was first introduced in the WTO at its second Ministerial Conference in 1998. The objective was to examine all trade-related issues arising from it.
Members also agreed to continue their practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions until the following Ministerial Conference. This is known as the “moratorium on electronic transmissions”.

Since 1998, WTO members have periodically agreed to extend the moratorium and continue their work under the E-commerce Work Programme. The last extension was agreed in June 2022 at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12). The moratorium is due to lapse at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in February 2024, unless WTO members decide to extend it again.