Exploring the issues of the gats negotiations : note by the UNCTAD Secretariat

Abstract

The purpose of this preliminary checklist is to assist developing countries' delegations in their analysis of numerous proposals submitted to the WTO Council for Trade in Services. It is aimed at providing the first insight into the issues that are detailed in the proposals that may benefit from further attention and consideration by developing countries. The checklist is an overview of "new" issues in the sense that they have not been addressed previously in a particular context. It also aims at identifying those issues that may be commonly found in specific sectoral proposals. Further, an overview of issues contained in the proposals under the specific services sectors is presented. In principle, majority of the proposals have addressed the issues in accordance with the following general themes: 1) General position; 2) Classification and Coverage/Scope; 3) Market Access/National Treatment; and 4) Regulatory Issues.