Analytical Note, February 2007
GATS Dispute Settlement Cases: Practical Implications for Developing Countries.
Developing countries should be aware of the implications of the WTO dispute settlement reports on US – Gambling1 and Mexico – Telecommunications as they continue participating in the WTO negotiations. The findings in the reports have set precedents on the interpretation of various GATS articles and concepts, including: necessity tests; Article XIV on General Exception; Article IV on Increasing Participation of Developing Countries; and scheduling guidelines.
This note briefly discusses the practical implications of these rulings. By doing so, it hopes to inform developing countries of the types of considerations that should be taken into account when formulating initial or subsequent offers, scheduling commitments, negotiating disciplines for rules and domestic regulation, or when involved in a dispute.
This article was tagged: Dispute Settlement, Domestic Regulation, GATS, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO)
