WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/S/11
S/CSS/11
11 April 2002
(02-1984)
Council for Trade in Services
Special Session
STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES TO THE
TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE
22 March 2002
1. Since my last report in December 2001, the Special Session of the Council for Trade in
Services held one formal meeting, from 19 to 22 March 2002.
2. My appointment as Chairman of the Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services was
formally confirmed.
3. Under the item on the assessment of trade in services, the Council held an extensive
discussion.  Many delegations reiterated the importance they attach to the assessment, which is an on-
going exercise.  It was stressed that, while the assessment should be conducted at the national level,
the exercise was also a collective responsibility of the Council.  Several delegations also referred tothe symposium on the issue, which had been held on 14 and 15 March, as a timely and very positive
contribution to the debate and a good basis to proceed.
4. With respect to the item on autonomous liberalisation, three new proposals were presented, by
the European Communities, Hong Kong, China  and Paraguay, which were valuable contributions to
the discussion.  A Secretariat note, containing "Possible Elements for Modalities for the Treatment of
Autonomous Liberalization" was also discussed.  The debate was very rich, with interventions by
close to 50 Members.  Delegations generally considered the Secretariat note a good base to continuework on autonomous liberalization.  The Council th erefore agreed that, using the Attachment in the
Secretariat note as a basis, and taking into account the many written and oral contributions, the
Chairman would produce a first draft of modalities  for the treatment of autonomous liberalization.  An
informal meeting of the Council will be held in advance of the next Special Session in June to discuss
the draft modalities.
5. The Chairpersons of the subsidiary bodies re ported to the Special Session, in keeping with
their regular reporting practice.  The Chairman of the Working Party on GATS Rules informed
Members that, at its meeting held on 15 March 2002, the Working Party had decided to extend the
deadline for the negotiations on the question of emergency safeguard measures until 15 March 2004.
6. As for the discussion of negotiating propos als, new submissions were tabled by the
delegations of Australia, Japan, Costa Rica, the ME RCOSUR countries, India and Cuba.  A list of all
proposals submitted to the Special Session thus far on services sectors and horizontal issues is
attached to this report.  Members addressed all the issues raised in the negotiating proposals and the
Council took note of the statements made.  In the course of the discussion on environmental services,
                                                     
1 All documents of the Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services will now be found under
the TN/S/- symbol.TN/S/1
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a question was raised about the reference, in paragraph 31(iii) of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, to
environmental services and whether it might affect work in the Special Session of the Council for
Trade in Services.  In order to avoid possible overlaps and duplications of work, I will be consulting
on the issue with the Chairpersons of the negotiating bodies concerned.
7. The discussion of the item on review of progress in the negotiations revealed Members'
concurrence that progress had been achieved in the negotiations, even if a few delegations were of the
view that progress had not been sufficient;  still, all Members agreed that a great deal of good work
had been carried out.  Many negotiating proposals had been submitted, by developed countries and, if
somewhat less, by developing countries.  Disappoint ment had been expressed at the lack of consensus
on the negotiations on emergency safeguard measures, but it was also noted that the debate on the
issue had proceeded on a faster and deeper basis.  Some delegations had pointed to the fact that no
conclusions had been reached on the assessment of trade in services and that the exercise needed to bebrought to closure, but it was also noted that the assessment was a standing item on the Council's
agenda.
8. As for the organization of further work, Members noted that the negotiations  were entering a
new phase, during which more time would need to be devoted to bilateral meetings.  At the same
time, multilateral work should not be neglected, particularly on horizontal issues;  amongst these, theassessment of trade in services and the treatment of autonomous liberalization were particularly
important at the current stage of the negotiations.  The need to utilise the subsidiary bodies in an
efficient manner was underscored and Members were invited to further reflect on how work might
best be allocated, in particular as it concerns cla ssification issues.  With respect to the item dealing
with the negotiating proposals, Members concurred that a rigid structure for that discussion, organizedby issue, would no longer be necessary.  It was therefore decided that, while the item would continue
to figure on the agenda, for delegations to submit new proposals and revert to existing ones, it would
not be broken down by services sectors and hori zontal issues.  It is understood that developing
countries would retain flexibility with respect to the submission of new negotiating proposals.
Flexibility should be ensured also in the scheduling and duration of meetings;  the point was madethat a two-week period of services meetings might prove unnecessary for the next cluster of meetings,
to be held in late May-early June.  The question of how the participation of capital-based experts and
the holding of bilateral consultations could be facilitated was raised;  delegations will reflect on this
question and revert to it at the July Special Session.
9. Under Other Business, a submission was introduced by Uganda on behalf of the Least-
Developed Country Members  on the establishment of modalities for the special treatment for least-
developed country Members mandated by Article XI X:3 of the GATS.  The issue will be addressed
under an agenda item to that effect at the next Special Session.TN/S/1
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Symbol Delegation Topic
General
S/CSS/W/4 Comm. from US Framework for negotiation
S/CSS/W/15 Comm. from EC Overall approach to services negotiations
S/CSS/W/32 Comm. from EC Negotiations on Sector ProposalsS/CSS/W/42 Comm. from Japan Negotiating proposal on servicesS/CSS/W/43 Comm. from CARICOM Negotiating proposal on servicesS/CSS/W/46 Comm. from Canada Sectoral/Modal/Horizontal proposals
S/CSS/W/59 Comm. from Norway Negotiations on Trade in Services
S/CSS/W/70 Comm. from Switzerland Introduction to negotiating proposalsS/CSS/W/82 Comm. from Korea Introduction to negotiating proposalsS/CSS/W/88 Comm. from Chile General negotiating proposalsS/CSS/W/90 Comm. from New Zealand Objectives of the resumed negotiationsS/CSS/W/109 Comm. from Kenya Negotiating proposal on services
Assessment
S/CSS/W/18 Comm. from Slovenia, Bulgaria, Czech,
Poland, Slovak.Assessment of trade in certain transition
economies
S/CSS/W/44 Comm. from Argentina Assessment of services and the participation of
developing countries
S/CSS/W/81 Comm. from Secretariat Inter-Agency Task Force on Statistics Services
S/CSS/W/104 Note by Secretariat Assessment of trade in servicesS/CSS/W/114 Comm. from Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Haïti, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Peru,Uganda, Venezuela and  ZimbabweAssessment of trade in services
S/CSS/W/117 Note by Secretariat Assessment
Autonomous Liberalization
S/CSS/W/126 Comm. from Korea Treatment of autonomous liberalization
S/CSS/W/130 Comm. from Brazil, Colombia etc. Treatment of autonomous liberalizationS/CSS/W/132 Comm. from Cu ba, Senegal, Tanzania,
Uganda, Zimbabwe and ZambiaTreatment of autonomous liberalization
S/CSS/W/133 Comm. from EC Treatment of autonomous liberalization
S/CSS/W/134 Comm. from Hong Kong, China Treatment of autonomous liberalizationS/CSS/W/140 Comm. from Paraguay Treatment of autonomous liberalization
Business services
All business services, except accountancy, legal and computer and related services
S/CSS/W/33 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposals on  professional servicesS/CSS/W/34 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposals on business other than
professional services
S/CSS/W/52 Comm. from Canada Negotiating proposal on professional servicesS/CSS/W/55 Comm. from Canada Business Services  (other than professional or
computer)
S/CSS/W/63 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on architectural servicesS/CSS/W/65 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on engineering servicesS/CSS/W/75 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on professional servicesS/CSS/W/98 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating proposal on professional services
S/CSS/W/100 Comm. from the US Negotiating Proposal on advertising services
S/CSS/W/116 Comm. from New Zealand Negotiating proposal on consulting servicesS/CSS/W/135 Comm. from Australia Negotiating Proposal on business servicesTN/S/1
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Symbol Delegation Topic
Legal
S/CSS/W/28 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on legal servicesS/CSS/W/67 & C.1 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on legal services
S/CSS/67/W/S.1/
Rev.1Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on legal services
S/CSS/67/W/S.2 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal classification of legal
services
Accountancy
S/CSS/W/20 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on accounting servicesS/CSS/W/62 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on accountancy services
Computer
S/CSS/W/56 Comm. from Canada Negotiating proposal on computer services
S/CSS/W/95 Comm. from MERCOSUR and Bolivia Negotiating Proposal on computer services
S/CSS/W/129 Comm. from Costa Rica Negotiating Proposal on computer servicesS/CSS/W/141 &C.1Comm. from India Negotiating proposal on computer services
Communication
Postal/Courier
S/CSS/W/26 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on express delivery
services
S/CSS/W/61 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on postal servicesS/CSS/W/73 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on postal/courier services
S/CSS/W/108 Comm. from MERCOSUR and Bolivia Negotiating proposal on postal services
S/CSS/W/115 Comm. from New Zealand Negotiating Proposal on postal/courier services
Telecom
S/CSS/W/17 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposals on telecommunicationsS/CSS/W/30 Comm. from US Market Access in telecom and complementary
services
S/CSS/W/35 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on telecommunicationsS/CSS/W/53 Comm. from Canada Negotiating proposal on telecommunicationsS/CSS/W/72 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on telecommunicationsS/CSS/W/83 Comm. from Korea Negotiating Proposal on telecommunicationsS/CSS/W/101 Comm. from Mexico Negotiating Proposal on telecommunications
S/CSS/W/119 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating Proposal on telecommunications
Audiovisual
S/CSS/W/21 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on audiovisual servicesS/CSS/W/74 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on audiovisual servicesS/CSS/W/99 Comm. from Brazil Negotiating Proposal on audiovisual services
Construction
S/CSS/W/36 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on construction and
related engineering services
S/CSS/W/64 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on construction and
related engineering services
S/CSS/W/84 Comm. from Korea Negotiating proposal on construction servicesSC/SS/W/91 Comm. from New Zealand Negotiating proposal on construction and
related engineering services
S/CSS/W/113 Comm. from Brazil Negotiating proposal on construction and
related engineering services
S/CSS/W/145 Comm. from Cuba Negotiating proposal on construction and
related engineering servicesTN/S/1
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Symbol Delegation Topic
Distribution
S/CSS/W/22 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on distribution services
S/CSS/W/37 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on distribution servicesS/CSS/W/57 Comm. from Canada Negotiating proposal on distribution servicesS/CSS/W/77 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on distribution services
S/CSS/W/85 Comm. from Korea Negotiating Proposal on distribution services
S/CSS/W/80 Comm. from Mercosur Negotiating proposal on distribution servicesS/CSS/W/120 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating proposal on distribution servicesS/CSS/W/136 Comm. from Australia Negotiating Proposal on distribution services
Education
S/CSS/W/23 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on higher (tertiary)
education
S/CSS/W/93 Comm. from New Zealand Negotiating proposal on educationS/CSS/W/110 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on education servicesS/CSS/W/137 Comm. from Japan Negotiating proposal on education
Energy
S/CSS/W/24 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on energy services
S/CSS/W/42/S.3 Comm. from Japan Negotiating proposal on energy services:S/CSS/W/58 Comm. from Canada Oil and Gas ServicesS/CSS/W/60 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on energy services
S/CSS/W/69 Comm. from Venezuela Negotiating proposal on energy services
S/CSS/W/144 Comm. from Cuba Negotiating proposal on energy services
Environmental
S/CSS/W/25 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on environmental services
S/CSS/W/38 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on environmental services
S/CSS/W/51 Comm. from Canada Negotiating proposal on environmental services
S/CSS/W/76 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on environmental servicesS/CSS/W/112 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on environmental servicesS/CSS/W/121 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating Proposal on environmental servicesS/CSS/W/142 Comm. from Cuba Negotiating proposal on environmental services
Financial
S/CSS/W/27 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on financial services
S/CSS/W/39 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on financial servicesS/CSS/W/50 Comm. from Canada Negotiating proposal on financial servicesS/CSS/W/66 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on financial services
S/CSS/W/71 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on financial services
S/CSS/W/86 & C.1 Comm. from Korea Negotiating proposal on financial servicesS/CSS/W/96 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating Proposal on financial servicesS/CSS/W/143 Comm. from Cuba Negotiating proposal on financial services
Recreational
S/CSS/W/94 Comm. from New Zealand Negotiating Proposal on sporting services
Tourism
S/CSS/W/5 Comm. from EC Reaction to the Communication from the
Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Hondurason the Need for an Annex on Tourism
S/CSS/W/9 Comm. from Dom. Rep, El Salvador and
HondurasAnnex on Tourism
S/CSS/W/19 Comm. from Dom. Rep, El Salvador,
Honduras, Nicaragua & PanamaCluster of Tourism Industries as set of tourism
characteristic products
S/CSS/W/31 Comm. from US Negotiating proposal on tourism and hotelsTN/S/1
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Symbol Delegation Topic
S/CSS/W/40 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on tourism services
S/CSS/W/54/R.1 Comm. from Canada Negotiating proposal on tourism servicesS/CSS/W/79 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on tourism services
S/CSS/W/107 Comm. from Dom. Rep. etc Negotiating proposal on the Tourism Annex
S/CSS/W/122 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating Proposal on tourism servicesS/CSS/W/125 Comm. from MERCOSUR Negotiating Proposal on tourism servicesS/CSS/W/128 Comm. from Costa Rica Negotiating Proposal on tourism services
Transport
S/CSS/W/41 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on transport services
S/CSS/W/78 Comm. from Switzerland Negotiating proposal on services auxiliary to all
modes of transport
Maritime
S/CSS/W/8 Comm. from EC, Hong Kong-China,
Japan, Korea, Norway & SwedenNegotiating proposal on maritime transport
S/CSS/W/68 Comm. from Hong Kong, China Logistics and Related Services
S/CSS/W/87 Comm. from Korea Negotiating proposal on maritime transportS/CSS/W/111 Comm. from Australia Negotiating proposal on maritime transportS/CSS/W/106 Note by the Secretariat Report on Maritime Transport Services
S/CSS/W/123 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating proposal on maritime transport
Air
S/CSS/W/92 Comm. from New Zealand Negotiating Proposal on air transport servicesS/CSS/W/124 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating Proposal on air transport services
S/CSS/W/138 Comm. from Costa Rica Negotiating Proposal on air transport services
Mode 4
S/CSS/W/12 & C.1 Comm. from India Proposed liberalization of movement of
professionals
S/CSS/W/29 Comm. from US Movement of Natural Persons
S/CSS/W/42/S.2 Comm. from Japan Negotiating proposal on temporary movement
of natural persons
S/CSS/W/45 Comm. from EC Negotiating proposal on temporary movement
of service suppliers
S/CSS/W/48 Comm. from Canada Negotiating proposal on temporary movement
of natural persons
S/CSS/W/97 Comm. from Colombia Negotiating Proposal on temporary movement
of natural persons
Horizontal issues
S/CSS/W/3 Comm. from EC Cluster approach
S/CSS/W/42/S.1 Comm. from Japan Negotiating proposal on services:  MFN
S/CSS/W/47 Comm. from Canada Transparency and predictability
S/CSS/W/49 Comm. from Canada Small and medium-sized enterprisesS/CSS/W/89 Comm. from ANDEAN Definition of criteria for classificationS/CSS/W/102 Comm. from the US Negotiating proposal on transparency in
domestic regulation
S/CSS/W/103 Comm. from Mexico Negotiating Proposal on MFN Issues
S/CSS/W/118 Note by Secretariat Economic Needs TestS/CSS/W/127 Comm. from Korea A thought on the alternatives to MFN issuesS/CSS/W/131 Comm. from Cuba, Pakistan, Senegal,
Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia andZimbabweArticle IV
S/CSS/W/139 Comm. from MERCOSUR Economic Needs Test
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