Important Issues to be
considered by Policy Makers and
Trade Negotiators
Issues concerning Multilateral Trade Negotiations:
• Article XIX- Built-in Agenda
• Doha Mandate
• Expanding market access commitments in
national schedules
• GATS rules
•
•
•
Emergency Safeguard Measures
Subsidies
Government Procurement
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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Important Issues to be
considered by Policy Makers and
Trade Negotiators
Key Concepts
• Domestic regulatory regimes
• Non-tariff nature of barriers to trade in
services
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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Progressive Liberalisation
• Importance for developing countries to
consolidate a positive agenda for their
negotiating objectives.
• Key Features of the Proposals made in
the Framework of the Positive Agenda:
•
•
•
•
•
Implementation of article VI
Liberalisation Mode 4
Positive List Approach
Introduction of safeguard provisions
Revisions of Subsidies and Government
Procurement
• Reinforcement of Article IX
• Credit for autonomous liberalization
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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SOME STARTING POINTS TO DEFINE THE
NEGOTIATING STRATEGY:
• Identify the sectors or subsectors where
the country has a strong comparative
advantage: those are the priorities, where
the main negotiating objectives have to be
set.
• Focus on markets which offer growth
prospects for exporters, and determine if a
better market access could be achieved
with bilateral, subregional or multilateral
negotiations.
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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SOME STARTING POINTS TO DEFINE THE
NEGOTIATING STRATEGY
• Identify the barriers for the domestic
exports in those markets: are they
determined by governmental measures?
• What are the domestic sectors or
subsectors that could be included in the
offer list as concessions in exchange of the
objectives?
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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REGARDING THE GATS 2000
Assess the implementation of the GATS:
• Costs and benefits in terms of :
• creation of employment
• transfer of technology
• new FDI
• new exports
• new imports
• future trends and prospects.
Identify if there is a need for new rules in the
GATS (i.e. on competition, subsidies,
implementation of art.IV) or if the schedules of
commitments need to be changed.
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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REGARDING THE GATS 2000
• Analyse the objectives of other WTO members
and their proposals submitted at the WTO
before the Seattle Conference, particularly
those of developing countries, as well as the
implications for the national position.
• Identify potential allies (developed or
developing countries) in the negotiating
process.
• Keep an eye on agriculture negotiations: there
may be “trade-offs” and links with services in
the future. Watch out for possible future links
with e-commerce.
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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AT THE SUBREGIONAL LEVEL
• Questions to be discussed among all
members of the subregional agreement:
• what is the role of trade in services among
members?
• Are services a key factor in the development
strategies of the members?
• Are they a key factor in the consolidation of
the subregaional agreement?
• What provisions should be adopted to foster
trade in services among members?
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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AT THE SUBREGIONAL LEVEL
• Questions to be discussed among all
members of the subregional agreement:
• Costs and benefits of a deeper liberalisation
among members vis-a-vis a multilateral
liberalisation?
• Therefore, what kind of preferential margin
for trade in services should be left (if any) in
the multilateral negotiations?
• There is room for a common position and a
common list of offers/requests?
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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PUT TOGETHER ALL THESE ELEMENTS
TO INITIATE
• Consultations at the domestic level
with the national entrepreneurs
involved in services.
• Consultations at the subregional level
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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PUT TOGETHER ALL THESE ELEMENTS
TO INITIATE
• Consultations in Geneva with other
WTO member states.
• Establish a mechanism to monitor the
GATS 2000 negotiations and to
adjust the negotiating strategies
during the process.
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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IMPORTANT IS UES FOR THE MEDIA
SOME QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED BY THE MEDIA TO POLICY-MAKERS,
TRADE NEGOTIATORS AND PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES:
• What are the objectives of the national negotiators in the
on-going WTO
• negotiations on services?
• What kind of domestic service firms are most competitive in
the regional and global
• markets?
• What domestic regulations should be adopted or improved in
accordance with the
• GATS provisions and integration in the global economy?
• What are the domestic policies that could be put in place to
support the export of services?
Commercial
Diplomacy & TrainForTrade
UNCTAD/CD-TFT
Module 1
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