Whalesbook
Socho, WTO ki meeting mein bilkul kuch final nahi ho paya. Iska matlab hai ki jo 26 saal se e-commerce par tax lagane par rok thi, woh khatam ho gayi hai, aur TRIPS ke rules mein bhi jo special protection thi, woh bhi lapse ho gayi hai. Developed aur developing countries ke beech mein digital trade aur intellectual property ko lekar jo bade disagreements hain, unki wajah se ab global trade ka future thoda uncertain ho gaya hai.
Digital Trade Par Naye Tariffs Ka Khatra
Ab jab e-commerce moratorium khatam ho gaya hai, toh countries digital downloads, streaming, aur doosre electronic transmissions par customs duties laga sakti hain. Ye moratorium 1998 se chal raha tha, jo in services ko tariff-free rakhta tha. USA chahta tha ki ye permanently extend ho jaye, jabki Brazil jaise countries short-term chahti thi taaki future mein revenue mil sake aur policy mein flexibility rahe. Although kuch countries ne bola hai ki woh tariffs nahi lagayenge, lekin ab sab jagah alag alag rules ho sakte hain, jisse businesses ke liye cost badh sakti hai. Isse Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix aur Meta jaise tech giants ko impact ho sakta hai.
TRIPS Safeguard Lapse Aur Public Health Par Asar
Dusri badi baat ye hai ki TRIPS agreement ke 'non-violation complaints' (NVCs) par jo safeguard tha, woh bhi khatam ho gaya hai. Ye safeguard countries ko aise policies banane se bachata tha jisse expected trade benefits kam ho sakte hain, bhale hi woh WTO rules ko explicitly break na karein. Yeh developing countries ke liye bahut important tha, taaki woh public health aur intellectual property jaise areas mein flexibility maintain kar sakein. Ab, compulsory licensing jaise policies, jahan governments health emergencies mein patents override kar sakti hain, woh challenges ke saamne aa sakti hain. Isse essential medicines tak pahunchne mein dikkat ho sakti hai aur pharmaceutical innovation par bhi asar padh sakta hai.
Regional Deals Ki Taraf Badhta Trend
Ye jo deadlock hua hai, khaskar USA aur Brazil ke beech, yeh dikhata hai ki global trade rules ab WTO se zyada regional agreements mein ban rahe hain. Jab WTO khud global rules par consensus nahi bana pa raha, toh iski future relevance par bhi sawaal uth rahe hain. Is fragmentation se businesses ke liye cost badhegi aur developing economies piche reh sakti hain.