Making Trade in Services Supportive of Development in Commonwealth Small and Low-income Countries

by MacRory, Patrick; Stephenson, Sherry

• ISBN13: 9781849290708
• ISBN10: 1849290709
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-11-15
• Publisher: Commonwealth Secretariat

Summary

This Economic Paper assesses new innovative measures in trade in service negotiations that reflect the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by developing countries. It outlines the approaches that can help small and low-income countries employ the Special and Differential Treatment Arrangements provided under the WTO GATS in a manner that is practical and supportive of their economic development.

Author Biography

Patrick Macrory is an independent consultant based in Washington.Dr Sherry Stephenson is Deputy Director for Trade at the Organisation of the American States in Washington.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	p. viii
Summary	p. ix
Introduction: Definition of Special and Differential Treatment	p. 1
Special and Differential Treatment Commitments Provided to Developing Countries	p. 5
Introduction
Architecture of services trade agreements	p. 6
The GATS	p. 6
The Doha Development Round	p. 7
Regional trade agreements	p. 7
Provisions acknowledging that reciprocity is not expected from developing countries	p. 7
The GATS	p. 7
The Doha Development Round	p. 8
Regional trade agreements	p. 9
Negotiated outcomes	p. 9
The GATS	p. 9
The Doha Development Round	p. 11
Regional trade agreements	p. 12
Technical assistance	p. 14
The GATS	p. 14
The Doha Development Round	p. 15
Regional trade agreements	p. 16
Longer time periods for implementation	p. 16
The GATS	p. 16
The Doha Development Round	p. 16
Regional trade agreements	p. 16
'Best endeavour' provisions	p. 17
The GATS	p. 17
The Doha Development Roun	p. 17
Regional trade agreements	p. 18
Pros and cons of special and differential treatment	p. 18
Challenges Faced by Business in Maximising Export and Investment Opportunities Derived from Special and Differential Treatment	p. 23
Suggested Pro-development Special and Differential Treatment Arrangements and Measures	p. 25
Negotiated outcomes that are beneficial to developing country partners	p. 25
Binding of Mode 1 in RTAs by developed countries for all services exports and removal of linkage with Mode 3	p. 25
Market access commitments for Mode 4 in categories of interest to developing countries	p. 26
Government procurement	p. 29
Channels for sharing information and expertise	p. 29
Provision of effective technical assistance	p. 32
The design and implementation of services regulatory systems	p. 32
Addressing supply-side constraints	p. 34
Recognising and facilitating inter-model linkages in services trade by developing Commonwealth countries	p. 34
How to Assess the Impact of Services Trade Liberalisation on Domestic vis-a-vis Foreign Service Suppliers	p. 36
What should be measured?	p. 36
What data should be used?	p. 37
Modelling techniques	p. 37
Total factor productivity models	p. 38
Computable general equilibrium modelling	p. 38
Frequency and gravity models	p. 40
Approaches to Advance Special and Differential Treatment in the Multilateral Context	p. 42
Reference paper	p. 42
MFN waiver with respect to LDC services exports	p. 43
Other approaches	p. 44
Annexes
SDT Provisions in Key North-South Regional Trade Agreements	p. 46
SDT Provisions in Key South-South Regional Trade Agreements	p. 51
GATS Provisions on Special and Differential Treatment	p. 53
Doha Development Round Documents Calling for Special and Differential Treatment	p. 56
Mode 4 Commitments by Developed Countries in North-South Regional Trade Agreements	p. 63
WTO Proposals Relating to Special and Differential Treatment in Trade in Services	p. 66
Bibliography	p. 75
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