RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/C/W/23
23May1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-2204)
Council forTrade inServices
MEETING OFTHE COUNCIL FOR TRADE INSERVICES, 29MAY 1997
Annotated Agenda
TheAgenda oftheCouncil forTrade inServices meeting, tobeheldon29May1997, has
beencirculated inWTO/AIR/599. Thisannotated agenda provides background information oneach
item.
A. DEADLINEFORTHENEGOTIATIONSONFINANCIALSERVICES-DRAFTDECISION
BYTHE COUNCIL (S/C/W/22)
1. TheCommittee onTrade inFinancial Services hasrecommended thattheCouncil forTrade
inServices takeaDecision toconclude thefinancial services negotiations on12December 1997instead
of30December 1997. Document S/C/W/22 contains adraftdecision tothateffect forconsideration
andadoption bytheCouncil forTrade inServices.
B. GUIDELINES FOR MUTUAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENTS ORARRANGEMENTS
INTHEACCOUNTANCY SECTOR -RECOMMENDATION OFTHEWORKING PARTY
ONPROFESSIONAL SERVICES (S/WPPS/W/12/REV.1 AND S/WPPS/W/14/REV.1 AND
CORR.1)
2. TheDecision onProfessional Services adopted on15December 1993, callsupontheWorking
Party onProfessional Services tomake recommendations concerning, interalia,theestablishment of
guidelinesfortherecognitionofqualificationsintheaccountancysector.Atitsmeetingon15May1997,
theWorkingPartyonProfessionalServicesconcludeditsworkontheGuidelinesforMutualRecognition
Agreements orArrangements intheAccountancy Sector. Theguidelines arecontained indocument
S/WPPS/W/12/Rev.1.ThetextoftherecommendationoftheWorkingPartytotheCounciliscontained
indocuments S/WPPS/W/14/Rev.1 andCorr.1.
C. REQUEST FORAWAIVER FROM ARTICLE IIOFTHEGATS FORCRSSERVICES -
JOINT COMMUNICATION BYAGROUP OFAFRICAN MEMBERS (S/L/37)
3. AGroup ofAfrican Members hadmade ajointrequest forawaiver from Article II(most-
favoured-nation treatment) oftheGeneral Agreement onTrade inServices formeasures regarding
computer reservation system (CRS) services. Document S/L/37 (dated 21May1997) contains ajoint
communication byBurkina Faso, Central African Republic, Malawi andUganda concerning therequest
ofawaiver. Subsequently however, these Members haverequested thatthisitembewithdrawn from
theAgenda oftheCouncil forthetimebeing.
./.S/C/W/23
Page2
D. THEIMPLEMENTATION OFTHEWORK PROGRAMME APPROVED BYMINISTERS
ATTHE SINGAPORE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE:
4. (i) THE EXCHANGE OFINFORMATION EXERCISE;
AttheMinisterial Conference inSingapore, Ministers decided thattheCouncil should develop
aninformation exchange programme asdescribed inparagraph 47oftheReport oftheCouncil
forTrade inServices totheGeneral Council (S/C/3). TheTrade inServices Council isrequired
toagree tothemodalities andtiming ofthisprogramme during 1997.
(ii) THE ARTICLE VI:4WORK PROGRAMME;
TheCouncil forTrade inServices iscalled upontoundertake thework programme contained
inArticle VI:4oftheGATS concerning qualification requirements andprocedures, technical
standards andlicensing requirements andprocedures. Ministers atSingapore haveagreed that
theCouncil should takethework asfaraspossible before thenextRound ofliberalization
negotiations. TheCouncil maytherefore wishtoconsider themodalities forthisexercise.
(iii) THE GUIDELINES FOR NEGOTIATIONS;
TheCouncil isrequired tobegin atanappropriate timetheconsideration ofguidelines and
procedures fornegotiations mandated under Article XIXoftheGATS. Paragraph 3of
Article XIXsetsouttheapproach tobetaken inestablishing suchguidelines.
5. Apreliminary discussion ofthese three elements tookplace atthemeeting oftheCouncil
of5March 1997 anditwasagreed thatfurther were needed.
E. PROCEDURES FORTHE MODIFICATION OFSCHEDULES -STATEMENT BYTHE
CHAIRMAN;
6. ParagraphofArticleXXIoftheGATScallsupontheCounciltoestablishproceduresrectification
ormodification ofschedules. Informal consultations havebeentaking place under theaegis ofthe
Council withaviewtofinalizing adrafttextoftheprocedures forconsideration andadoption bythe
Council. TheChairman willmake astatement informing delegations ofprogress achieved sofarin
thisregard.