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Topics handled by WTO committees and agreementsIssues covered by the WTO’s committees and agreements

 SERVICES: SECTOR BY SECTOR
Maritime transport

Maritime services is an area where further negotiations were scheduled to improve on the commitments included in the initial Uruguay Round schedules. Negotiations were originally scheduled to end in June 1996, but participants failed to agree on a package of commitments. The talks have resumed with the new services round which started in 2000. Some commitments already exist in some countries' schedules covering the three main areas in this sector: access to and use of port facilities; auxiliary services; and ocean transport.

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The current negotiations back to top

Currently, maritime transport services, like all services, are included in the new services negotiations, which began January 2000.

  
  
The mandate back to top

Principles of the trade in maritime transport services are contained, like for all services, in the GATS.

Included in the GATS, is the Annex on Negotiations on Maritime Services which provides for maritime negotiations to resume in year 2000.

  
  
Current commitments and exemptions back to top

Thirty two (32) countries made commitments on maritime services during the Uruguay Round negotiations. Five countries did so later.

All commitments and MFN exemptions
  

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Uruguay Round and Post-Uruguay Round Negotiations in maritime services back to top

A summary of the Uruguay Round and Post-Uruguay Round negotiations in maritime services (from the WTO Annual report 1996).

  
  
 Official documents and background studies back to top

WTO Secretariat background paper (1998) on Maritime Transport Services (Download in Word format 30 pages; 226 KB).

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