WTO talks on extending a moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions are deadlocked, diplomats said, although a wider reform plan is nearing a deal.
The talks include efforts to bridge differences between the U.S. and India over extending the e-commerce moratorium, which was first adopted in 1998.
Ministers are debating a new draft document to extend negotiations by four years plus an additional buffer year to 2031.
India and the U.S. have been far apart in their positions on the e-commerce moratorium, with India indicating it would accept a two-year extension, while the U.S. wants a permanent one.
Business leaders say an extension is vital to guarantee predictability, fearing duties could otherwise be introduced.
A draft reform roadmap that provides a timeline for progress and sets out the key issues to address is close to being agreed.
