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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 


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 
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 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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