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

The document argues that a comprehensive assessment of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is essential for developing countries to determine if the Uruguay Round delivered promised benefits and to inform future liberalisation negotiations. It suggests moving beyond quantitative trade flow data to include qualitative indicators related to sustainable development, such as access to water, health, and education. The authors recommend that developing countries use written submissions to the Council for Trade in Services (CTS), identify priority sectors like transport and tourism for study, and seek technical and financial assistance to bridge research gaps.

• Developing countries should use the GATS assessment to verify if the Uruguay Round provided the expected quantitative and qualitative benefits and to understand the implications of current disciplines before pursuing further liberalisation.
• Current GATS assessments rely too heavily on quantitative economic data; they should be expanded to include objectives specific to developing countries, such as increased participation in trade and liberalisation in sectors of export interest.
• A comprehensive assessment must evaluate whether the GATS has strengthened the domestic services sectors of developing countries, specifically regarding their access to information, distribution channels, and technology.
• The assessment should incorporate qualitative indicators of sustainable development and social welfare, such as the quality of health services, basic education, and water access, to determine the GATS's impact on living standards.
• It is necessary to assess whether GATS disciplines have hindered the right of developing countries to regulate their own national policy objectives or weakened domestic regulatory frameworks for foreign investment.
• To operationalise the assessment, developing countries are encouraged to make formal submissions to the Council for Trade in Services (CTS) highlighting data gaps and imbalances in commitments, and to conduct sectoral studies in areas such as tourism, construction, and transport.

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} }