A Handbook on the GATS Agreement AWTO Secretariat Publication Prepared by the WTO Trade in Services Division

Cover......Page 1
A Handbook on the GATS Agreement......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
CONTENTS......Page 7
DISCLAIMER......Page 9
INTRODUCTION......Page 11
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND......Page 12
BASIC PURPOSE......Page 13
DEFINITION OF SERVICES TRADE AND MODES OF SUPPLY......Page 14
SCOPE AND APPLICATION......Page 16
GENERAL TRANSPARENCY AND OTHER “GOOD GOVERNANCE” OBLIGATIONS......Page 17
CONDITIONAL GRANTING OF MARKET ACCESS AND NATIONAL TREATMENT......Page 18
Annexes covering sector- or policy-related issues......Page 20
SCHEDULES OF SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS......Page 22
DOMESTIC REGULATION......Page 23
DOMESTIC REGULATION......Page 24
ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AGREEMENTS......Page 25
SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS......Page 26
MODIFICATION OF SCHEDULES......Page 27
HOW SCHEDULES ARE STRUCTURED......Page 28
PURPOSE AND EFFECTS OF REGULATION......Page 31
DISCIPLINES FOR DOMESTIC REGULATION......Page 33
DEVELOPING NEW REGULATIONS – HOW TO PROCE......Page 34
SUBSIDIARY BODIES......Page 36
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES......Page 37
THE MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES INVOLVED......Page 40
NOTIFICATIONS......Page 43
CONTACT POINTS......Page 44
THE DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA......Page 45
THE MANDATED REVIEW OF MFN EXEMPTIONS......Page 46
Emergency safeguards......Page 47
SUBSIDIES......Page 48
WORK PROGRAMME ON E-COMMERCE......Page 49
NEGOTIATING APPROACHES......Page 53
IDENTIFYING RELEVANT TRADING PARTNERS, SECTORS AND MODES......Page 54
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF REQUESTS......Page 55
TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF OFFERS......Page 56
. . . AND THE FACTS......Page 58
COMPLEXITY AS A CHALLENGE......Page 59
The Importance of Services for Consumers and Producers, Traders and Investors......Page 61
Domestic Consultations......Page 62
APPENDIX 2 RELEVANT SERVICES STATISTICS AND CLASSIFICATIONS......Page 66
ANNEX GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES......Page 68
GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES......Page 69
Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment......Page 70
Disclosure of Confidential Information......Page 71
Economic Integration......Page 72
Domestic Regulation......Page 74
Recognition......Page 75
Monopolies and Exclusive Service Suppliers......Page 76
Emergency Safeguard Measures......Page 77
Restrictions to Safeguard the Balance of Payments......Page 78
General Exceptions......Page 79
Security Exceptions......Page 80
Market Access......Page 81
National Treatment......Page 82
Negotiation of Specific Commitments......Page 83
Modification of Schedules......Page 84
Consultation......Page 85
Technical Cooperation......Page 86
Definitions......Page 87
Annexes......Page 89
ANNEX ON MOVEMENT OF NATURAL PERSONS SUPPLYING SERVICES UNDER THE AGREEMENT......Page 90
ANNEX ON AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES......Page 91
2. Domestic Regulation......Page 92
5. Definitions......Page 93
1. Objectives......Page 95
3. Definitions......Page 96
5. Access to and use of Public Telecommunications Transport Networks and Services......Page 97
7. Relation to International Organizations and Agreements......Page 99
ANNEX ON NEGOTIATIONS ON BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS......Page 100
INDEX......Page 101