Ref. Ares(2017)4217445 - 29/08/2017
Ref. Ares(2017)5324690 - 31/10/2017
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Directorate-General for Trade
Directorate B – Services and investment, bilateral trade relations
Unit B1 - Services and Investment
Brussels, 17.12.2011
REPORT
Subject: Meeting with the European Services Forum, Brussels, 13 December 2011
I
General issues
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II
State of play regarding the multilateral trade agenda
ESF (O'Toole): There is frustration in the services industry on the DDA. We have given some thought as
to whether WTO-consistent plurilateral negotiations on services might advance things. If there is a real
engagement on substance by the principal parties involved (40 countries) in services, then the DDA
could make more progress. x
The US havebeen thinking about launching separate plurilateral negotiations.
While there is a preference on the EU side with WTO-consistency to avoid MFN issues, focus needs
to be on substance rather than on discussing legal issues, such as MFN, from the beginning. Also
need to be mindful that since the Doha mandate was settled, economic conditions have changed
dramatically. There are now more linkage between trade in goods and services, such as with data
processing. Many new issues have overtaken the Doha process.
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A number of
countries are willing to advance on services, which would be consistent with Article V GATS if all
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sectors are covered. But if it is not a WTO negotiation, there is a slim chance of turning it into WTO
negotiations, because it needs agreement from all 153 members. That's why there are plurilateral
negotiations within the WTO. Indeed, since the launching of the DDA the services industries have
changed and so have the economic conditions. So far there has only been one round of negotiations in
services, namely the GATS. Would be useful if you continue to reflect on how to advance.
Questions by ESF representatives:
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-On ICT there have already been a number of very good comments. With regard to plurilateral
services negotiations, there has already been a discussion last year.
COM ([Art.4.1 b]
): the ICT principles are a good sign, even if they are not an internationally binding
agreement.
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ESF (Kerneis): [Out of scope]
As regards Doha negotiations on a plurilateral basis, let’s resume negotiations on issues where
progress can be made. However, we do not favour an agreement outside of the WTO framework.
III
State of play regarding bilateral trade issues
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Document Outline