Bangladesh, March 31 -- The World Trade Organization's (WTO) fourteenth Ministerial Conference (MC14) concluded on Monday in Yaounde, Cameroon, with members failing to resolve the contentious issue of extending the moratorium on customs duties on electronic commerce, such as digital downloads and streaming, reports The Hindu.

In May 1998, WTO members agreed for the first time not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions for two years, a moratorium that has been extended biennially since then. Its expiry would open the door to imposing tariffs on e-commerce.

Talks on the duty ban reached a deadlock between Brazil and the U.S. While some member countries opposed an extension or favour two years, the U.S. was pushing for a long...