The seminar will
take the shape of briefings followed by discussions on the GATS and the schedules of
commitments and on the major current areas of work in the Council for Trade in Services
and its subsidiary bodies. The first Special
Session of the Services Council dealing with the new negotiations was held on Friday 25
February. Members agreed that the initial stages of the negotiations will concentrate on
rules-making. The negotiations on specific market-access commitments are expected to start
towards the end of the year.
While
work on the rules-making will mostly take place in the existing services committees,
market access negotiations will take place in special sessions of the Services Council.
At
the same time, the Services Council will continue its mandated work on the reviews in
regular meetings: review of MFN exemptions ; review of the Annex on Air
Transport Services and review of the Understanding on Accounting Rates (S/GBT/4).
The
Working Party on GATS Rules will continue its work on subsidies, government procurement
and safeguards. The Working Party on Domestic Regulations will carry on its task of
drafting disciplines relating to technical standards, licensing and qualification
requirements for all services sectors. The Committee on Specific Commitments is currently
working on guidelines for scheduling commitments and on procedures for the certification
of services schedules. It also continues its work on the classification of services.
The
next round of services meetings will take place during the week of 10 April:
Wednesday 12 April
Committee
on Specific Commitments
Thursday 13 April
Morning
- Working Party on Domestic Regulations
Afternoon
- Committee on Financial Services
Friday 14 April
Morning
- Council for Trade in Services
Afternoon
- Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services
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