Brussels / Geneva, 03/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The World Trade Organisation has given the kick off for further talks on the liberalisation of services with a view to completing the results of the last round of multilateral negotiations and agreements reached since then.
The Council for trade in services, responsible for monitoring the working of the agreement reached at the Uruguay Round, established, on 25 February, a two-stage time-table for talks where Europe and most other industrialised countries call for better market access, mainly in this flourishing sector. In conformity with commitments taken during the conclusion of the Uruguay Round, two phases are foreseen: i) one allowing for new rules to be envisaged which do not yet appear in the general agreement on the trade in services (GATS) and which would govern the subsidies, public procurement and safeguard measures; ii) the other, the "supply and demand" phase, for negotiating greater market access. Discussions will resume on 10 April.
EUROPE recalls that the 1994 GATS provides for continued liberalisation of the sector through periodical negotiations. It is based on three fundamental principles: i) all services are concerned, except public services; ii) national treatment; ii) most favoured nation treatment. Later negotiations have allowed these provisions to be added to, concerning basic telecommunications, financial services, maritime transport (which are, however, suspended) and the movements of natural persons.