Services / GATS / TISA

Ambassador Jara's report to the Trade Negotiations Committee

27 July, 2005
focusweb.org
Following the World Trade Organization (WTO) Mini-Ministerial Meeting in Dalian, China earlier this month, Ambassador Alejandro Jara, Chairman of the WTO Council for Trade in Services Special Session, issued a report on the state of play in the Doha Round services negotiations.

Jara vows to work on advancing services, says offers fall short

21 July, 2005
Inside US Trade
The chairman of the Doha round's services negotiating group this week told the Trade Negotiations Committee that offers now on the table provide few if any new commercial opportunities to services companies.

G8 moves a bit on aid and debt, but fails on trade and climate

14 July, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jul05/8)
The recent G8 Summit in Gleneagles has been proclamed to be proofof the G8's new commitment to development. However the outcome was mixed, with some progress in aid and debt.

Services Assessment by the Chair, Ambassador Jara

11 July, 2005
IATP
Assessment issued by the Chair of the Services Negotiations to the TNC.

A ?Bold Course? Needed for Services

10 July, 2005
Washington Trade Daily
A 'bold course of action' to bring services negotiations on par with agriculture and market access for industrials in the ongoing Doha Development Agenda is needed

Brazilian Intervention in the Council for Trade in Services

5 July, 2005
IATP
Brazil's intervention on July 1st 2005.

North and South countries differ on assessment of services talks, and on the need or otherwise for new negotiating approach

4 July, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jul05/2)
Some major developed and developing countries have been giving significantly different assessments of the state of the services negotiations during the Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services held at the World Trade Organisation on 27 June to 1 July.

Local and Regional Reaction to GATS and Similar Trade Rules (Updated)

30 June, 2005
Edward Sussex
This is an update of Edward Sussex's paper on Local and Regional Reaction to GATS and Similar Trade Rules.

US Plan in GATS

30 June, 2005
Washington Trade Daily
The United States yesterday presented some ideas for a new work plan to speed the pace of the Doha Development Agenda services negotiations

GATS Benchmarks - exchanges of non-papers

30 June, 2005
ICFTU and PSI
the EU has recently tabled a non-paper on benchmarking in GATS. The response from 'Brazil' is NOT a formal Brazilian response but is apparently a view shared by many other delegations.

Controversial 'benchmarking' idea to dominate GATS talks?

27 June, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jun05/11)
It is still not clear what exactly the proponents of 'benchmarking' are proposing. However, many developing countries have been sceptical about the concept, believingthat it is being used as an instrument to oblige them to open up more of their servicessectors and in more ways than they would otherwise like.(M.Khor)

Civil society groups voice concerns over GATS talks at WTO

26 June, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jun05/10)
More than 160 civil society organizations from around the world sent a letter to WTO ambassadors in Geneva Thursday expressing their deep concerns regarding the current round of negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which is part of the 'single undertaking'under the July 2004 Framework

Services Still At a Standstill in Geneva

26 June, 2005
Washington Trade Daily
A 'brain-storming' session on Friday among nine key members of the World Trade Organization to set quantitative benchmarks in the sluggish Doha Development Agenda services negotiations has failed to bring about convergence

Trade: WTO Rules Group discusses new proposal on anti-dumping

24 June, 2005
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Jun05/8)
The WTO Negotiating Group on Rules, holding a weeklong meeting (30 May - 3 June), has received a new proposal with respect to thedetermination of dumping margins under the Anti-Dumping Agreement.

A ?Green Room? Meeting Today

22 June, 2005
Washington Trade Daily
World Trade Organization Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi holds a small 'green room' meeting today to finalize how the process leading to the end-of-July General Council session can be conducted

Civil Society Slams Services Negotiations at the WTO; Developing Countries Pressured To Open Services to Foreign Corporations

22 June, 2005
Alexandra Strickner
Over 160 civil society organizations from around the world sent a letter to WTO ambassadors today calling on negotiators to stop pressuring developing countries to open up their services sector to the corporations based in industrialized countries.

G20 Proposal on the Green Box

21 June, 2005
IATP
The main objective of this review and clarification is to ensure that domestic support measures notified conform to the fundamental requirement that they have no, or at most minimal, trade-distorting effects or effects on production

Canadian Proposal on the Green Box

21 June, 2005
IATP
In response to the Chair

Chamber of Deputies unanimously approves parliamentary bill to free Aids drug patents

3 June, 2005
Ministry of Health, Brazil
The Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Commission of the Chamber of Deputies (CCJ) unanimously approved a Bill modifying Article 18 of the Brazilian Patents Law thereby freeing Aids drugs from patent coverage.

Inside U.S. Trade, ATTORNEYS GENERAL SEEK CLOSER CONSULTATION IN SERVICES TALKS

2 June, 2005
Sara Johnson
Attorneys general from 29 states called on the Bush Administration this week to consult with them more closely when formulating positions on the services negotiations in the Doha round.