If you are interested in participating the WTO's Public Forum (scheduled for September 28-October 1, 2021), please note the following registration deadlines:

• In-person Registration:  September 6, 2021
• Virtual Participation Registration:  September 27, 2021

The theme of the WTO's Public Forum is "Trade Beyond COVID-19: Building Resilience."  For more information, please see 

https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/pf21_26aug21_e.htm

CNBC -

Amazon is on a spending spree to grow its shipping business and isn’t content with only delivering products purchased on its own site. The company is now moving cargo for outside customers in its latest move to compete directly with FedEx and UPS.

The full article can be found at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/04/how-amazon-is-shipping-for-third-parties-to-compete-with-fedex-and-ups.html

CNBC -

Over the years, Amazon has built up an army of warehouses, shipping hubs, delivery vans and trucks to ensure it can meet its Prime pledge of delivery in two days or less.

See full article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/04/map-of-amazon-air-locations-.html

Check out the e-commerce panels scheduled for the WTO's Public Forum 2021 — “Trade Beyond COVID-19: Building Resilience” scheduled for September 28-October 1, 2021:

• Cross-border e-commerce: Opportunities and challenges for MSMEs in Latin America (ICC)
• Digital trade governance for development: Implementation challenges and technical assistance needs (World Bank Group)
• Conditions for appropriate e-commerce in developing countries (Bread for the World)
• Services and innovation: The future is digital (Coalition of Services Industries)
• Designing digital trade provisions in the AfCFTA: Lessons from existing trade agreements (IDS and UNECA)
• Digitalization for development: Benefits for MSMEs in developing countries (Netherlands)
• The case for ambitious services market access commitments as part of the JSI on e-commerce (NFTC and ITI)

The full program can be found at: https://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum21_e/draft_programme_e.pdf

BEIJING, Aug 31 (Reuters) - China's market regulator proposed amendments to the country's e-commerce law, saying that licences can be revoked if the platforms fail to take necessary measures against vendors who infringe intellectual property rights.

The amendments are open for public review before Oct. 14, an article published by the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) website on Tuesday said.

See full article at: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-market-regulator-proposes-amendments-e-commerce-law-2021-08-31/

This notice announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is extending the Section 321 Data Pilot through August 2023. DATES: The voluntary pilot initially began on August 22, 2019, and will run for an additional 24 months through August 2023. At this time, the pilot is limited to a maximum of nine participants.

See the FRN at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-08-30/pdf/2021-18655.pdf?utm_source=federalregister.gov&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscription%2Bmailing%2Blist

CNBC -

Walmart on Tuesday announced the launch of a delivery service called GoLocal, which will carry goods from other local retailers to consumers.

The company said it expects to begin shipping by the end of 2021 and that the delivery fleet would include newer technologies, such as self-driving vehicles and drones.

See full article at: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/24/walmart-launches-delivery-business-to-connect-other-local-retailers-with-consumers.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail

Forbes -

One of the most exciting trends in small business since the pandemic has been the growth of e-commerce—to the point that investors such as the unicorn company Thrasio are buying up small, mom-and-pop online stores and aggregating them into a stable of brands.

See full article at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elainepofeldt/2021/08/21/e-commerce-is-booming-but-only-for-the-nimble/?sh=7a1b3f643629

World Economic Forum -

Most people think that expanding trade is a good thing, according to a recent Ipsos-World Economic Forum survey of adults in 25 countries around the world.

But support for globalization has declined - with half of people unsure of its benefits and a third advocating for trade barriers.

On average three-quarters of those surveyed thought that expansion was a good thing, with just 5% disagreeing. Support was strongest in Peru and lowest in France.

See full article at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/08/what-do-people-think-about-trade-and-globalization

The E-commerce and Digital Economy Programme continued to evolve in 2020, while adapting its focus and activities to reflect the evolution and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This first Year in Review provides an overview of our main activities and accomplishments in 2020. It highlights key facts and main developments, and outlines some of the Programme's objectives for 2021 and beyond.

The document can be downloaded at: https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/dtlstictinf2021d2_en.pdf