Protecting EU consumers requires action not only within the European Union but also beyond. The increasingly global nature of commerce means that European consumers increasingly come into contact with suppliers from outside the EU. Electronic commerce in particular is facilitating more transactions across external borders of the Union. Consumer issues are therefore being addressed in a wide range of international forums, such as the WTO (World Trade Organisation) and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development). The Commission is working to ensure that European consumer protection interests are taken into account in these discussions.