Liberalization of Trade in Health Services: Balancing Mode 4 Interests with Obligations to Provide Universal Access to Basic Services.
Health is a human Right. The Right is bestowed on human beings through national constitutions and various international legal instruments that have been signed and ratified by many, if not all, governments of the world. Inherent herein is the Right to access basic health services; which imposes an obligation on States to ensure that these services are universally accessible to all their constituents. (more…)
Why Inclusion of Services in the EPAS is Problematic: Legal and Development Implications.
Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) are an important instrument in international trade. RTAs create bigger markets through reduction or elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade between members. Traditionally, these Agreements have focused on the liberalization of merchandise trade among members. (more…)
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. (more…)
Development at crossroads: The economic partnership agreement negotiations with Eastern and Southern African countries on trade in services.
In simple terms, Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) are intergovernmental Agreements that manage and promote trade activities in specific regions of the world, aimed at reducing or eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade between members. RTAs may solely address trade integration, or may be part of a wider Regional Integration Agreement (RIA), which encompasses governance and political issues. (more…)
Increasing LDC Participation in Services through Special Priority Market Access in the WTO.
The participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in international trade in services is minimal. Unlike the case of goods, in services, LDCs compete on a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) basis. It is therefore impossible for a country to give a market opening only to LDCs, on terms more favourable than is available to others. (more…)
The Development Dimension of the GATS Domestic Regulation Negotiations.
This Analytical Note discusses the implications GATS Article VI: 4 disciplines can have on developing countries and least developed countries and their pursuit for development through domestic regulations. (more…)
Considering gender and the WTO services negotiations.
The objective of this paper is to raise awareness amongst trade negotiators from developing and least developed countries of the inter-relationship between gender and trade in services issues. The context is the negotiations within the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO). (more…)
South Centre Analysis on the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration.
The South Centre Analysis of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration evaluates the developments in the Doha Work Programme since the launch of the Round, examines the implications of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration and identifies some important strategic issues for developing countries that need to be considered in subsequent negotiation. (more…)
Hong Kong Ministerial Conference: Bottom Lines for LDCs in the GATS Negotiations.
This analytical note aims to assist least developed countries (LDCs) participate more actively in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations leading up to the Sixth Hong Kong Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in December 2005 by (more…)
Hong Kong Ministerial Conference: Bottom Lines for Developing Countries in the GATS Negotiations.
In the lead up to the Sixth Hong Kong Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in December 2005, developing countries have an interest to define their outcomes for the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations. (more…)
Issues of Interest to LDCs in the WTO Services Negotiations – Series No 3: Emergency Safeguard Mechanism.
The negotiations on Article X on an Emergency Safeguard Mechanism (ESM) of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) were initiated after the establishment of the GATS at the end of the Uruguay Round of negotiations in 1995. (more…)
The real objectives of the ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) currently under negotiation are poverty eradication; sustainable development; and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy. (more…)
