ASSESSMENT OF TRADE IN SERVICES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT GATS NEGOTIATIONS IN THE WTO

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides guidance to developing country negotiators on how to operationalize the assessment of trade in services as mandated by paragraph 14 of the March 2001 GATS negotiating guidelines. It argues that a comprehensive assessment—incorporating both quantitative economic data and qualitative social and environmental indicators—is essential to determine if the GATS has delivered promised benefits and to inform future liberalization negotiations.

• Developing countries view the assessment of trade in services as a critical tool to verify if the Uruguay Round provided the expected quantitative and qualitative benefits and to understand the implications of current GATS disciplines before pursuing further liberalization.
• The briefing argues that GATS assessments have focused too heavily on quantitative trade flow data and should instead prioritize economic objectives relevant to developing countries, such as promoting economic growth for all partners and increasing developing country participation in services trade.
• To evaluate whether the GATS has strengthened domestic services sectors in developing countries, the document suggests tracking indicators for access to information, distribution channels, and technology, while specifically analyzing the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on domestic providers.
• A comprehensive assessment must move beyond trade data to include qualitative analyses of sustainable development, using indicators such as the quality of water, access to health services, basic education, telecommunications, and the exhaustion of natural resources.
• The document emphasizes the need to assess whether the GATS has hindered the right of developing countries to regulate and determine their own national policy objectives, particularly regarding domestic regulatory frameworks for foreign investment.
• The briefing recommends that developing countries operationalize paragraph 14 of the guidelines by making written submissions to the Council for Trade in Services (CTS), identifying priority sectors like tourism, construction, and transport for study, and seeking financial and technical assistance.

APA

Tuerk, E., & Krajewski, M. (n.d.). ASSESSMENT OF TRADE IN SERVICES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT GATS NEGOTIATIONS IN THE WTO. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Assesment_GATS_WTO.pdf

Chicago

Tuerk, Elisabeth, and Markus Krajewski. ASSESSMENT OF TRADE IN SERVICES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT GATS NEGOTIATIONS IN THE WTO. Center for International Environmental Law, n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Assesment_GATS_WTO.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tuerk |first1=Elisabeth |last2=Krajewski |first2=Markus |title=ASSESSMENT OF TRADE IN SERVICES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT GATS NEGOTIATIONS IN THE WTO |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Assesment_GATS_WTO.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tuerkndassessment, author = {Tuerk, Elisabeth and Krajewski, Markus}, title = {{ASSESSMENT OF TRADE IN SERVICES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT GATS NEGOTIATIONS IN THE WTO}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Assesment_GATS_WTO.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }