Tax-free status of movie, music and games traded online is on table as WTO nations meet in Abu Dhabi

GENEVA: Since late last century and the early days of the web, providers of digital media like Netflix and Spotify have had a free pass when it comes to international taxes on films, video games and music that are shipped across borders through the internet.

But now, a global consensus on the issue may be starting to crack.

As the World Trade Organization opens its latest biannual meeting of government ministers Monday, its longtime moratorium on duties on e-commerce products – which has been renewed almost automatically since 1998 – is coming under pressure as never before.