The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) - An overview:

Preliminary Assessment of Services Performance in Developing Countries

UNCTAD

Commercial Diplomacy Programme

May 2002

Objective

The Guidelines for Negotiations

invite WTO members to carry out an assessment of trade-in-services before negotiating;

To do so both in overall terms and on a sectoral basis.

This presentation will draw attention to key issues for such an assessment, with special emphasis on the challenges and concerns of developing countries and LDCs

Insights for This Assessment Were Gained From the Following UNCTAD Expert Meetings:

Construction services

Energy services

Environmental services

Health services

Tourism services

Air transport services

What May Developing Countries Seek from this Assessment?

Draw on lessons learned in the past

Establish what is relevant for the new negotiations

Identify conditions to maximize benefits

Formulate development objectives in the

expected outcome of the negotiations

Address existing development asymmetries

Some Common Issues That Emerged From Service Sectors Analysis

1. Access to technology

2. SMEs

3. Licensing

4. Anti-competitive practices

5. Movement of persons

6. Regional integration

Access to Technology

Environmental, construction, energy services

Government regulations

Joint ventures

Training of manpower

Tourism

Distribution Channels / Information networks

Support infrastructure

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Present in all sectors

Privatisation as a contributing factor

Construction: size handicap

Governmental support

Licensing Requirements

Construction, environmental, energy

Transparency in qualification requirements

Multiple regulations and standards

Anti-Competitive Practices

Construction

Permit system

Tourism

CRS/GDS networks

Movement of Persons

All sectors

Economic needs test

Accreditation and recognition of qualifications

Nationality, residency requirements

Importance of Regional Integration Among Developing Countries

Building global competitive strengths

Better market access opportunities

Harmonization of laws

Regional policy on services

Mutual recognition of qualifications

Facilitated movement of persons

Some Sector-Specific Issues – Developing Countries Perspectives

Health

Tourism

Health Services

Universal health care principles

Forces influencing the market

Emerging trade concerns

Tourism services

The importance of tourism

Sustainability challenges

Key trade concerns

Conclusion

The purpose of this presentation was to present a

situation analysis of the GATS services sectors.

Six cross-cutting issue were highlighted

Two sectors were presented

This analysis should serve as input for your pre-

negotiation assessment.

The next step will focus on how these topics can be

reflected in the Post-Doha Work Programme.