Geneva | The world’s trade ministers are struggling to resolve a stand-off that could “break the internet”, with business groups warning countries may start slapping customs duties on cross-border digital trade such as streaming, e-books and cloud services.

At the World Trade Organisation summit of 120 ministers, India, Indonesia and South Africa are refusing to renew a two-year “moratorium” that bans the WTO’s 164 member countries from imposing customs duties on e-commerce.