. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS/WPGR/7
25 July 2002
(02-4119)
Working Party on GATS Rules
WORK PROGRAMMES
Adopted by the Working Party on GATS Rules on 22 July 2002
1. In organizing the work of the Working Party as outlined below, Members recognize that -
(a) The work programmes do not prejudge in any way the outcome of the respective
negotiations on emergency safeguard measures, subsidies and government
procurement.  Members will remain free to bring up any relevant issues for
discussion, including the questions of feasibility and desirability, as well as the scope
of the negotiations, under any of the three subjects of negotiations.
(b) The benchmarks for submissions are indicative, with a view to encouraging Members
to put forward submissions on the respective subjects as early as possible, and would
be without prejudice to Members’ right to put forward further suggestions and raise
relevant issues by way of submissions at any time, under any of the three subjects of
negotiations.
(c) The undertaking of individual items of work, including the question of feasibility and
desirability, should be without prejudice to each other under each subject of
negotiations.
2. Members also recognize that flexibility should be exercised in conducting the work of the
Working Party and the work programmes may be adjusted in the future to take account of latest
progress.
I. EMERGENCY SAFEGUARDS MEASURES
3. Having regard to Article X of the GATS, paragraph 7 of the Negotiating Guidelines (S/L/93)1
and the fourth decision on negotiations on emergency safeguard measures (S/L/102)2, and with a view
to structuring future work of the Working Party on GATS Rules, the Working Party will organize its
work on emergency safeguard measures (ESM) as follows –
(a) to identify, elaborate and consolidate elements for ESM and to address the question
of feasibility and desirability of ESM;
(b) to encourage Members to put forward submissions on ESM as early as possible
before 31 December 2002, without prejudice to Members’ right to put forward further
suggestions and raise relevant issues;
                                                     
1 Paragraph 7 of the Negotiating Guidelines (S/L/93) states inter alia  that "Negotiations on safeguards under
Article X shall be completed by 15 March 2002 according to the Decision adopted by the Council for Trade in
Services on 1 December 2000".
2 S/L/102 states inter alia that “[t]he first sentence of paragraph 1 of Article X shall continue to apply until 15
March 2004”.  The first sentence of paragraph 1 of Article X reads “[t]here shall be multilateral negotiationson the question of emergency safeguard measures based on the principle of non-discrimination”.S/WPGR/7
Page 2
(c) the Chairperson to circulate a note by 15 March 2003 to report on the results of work
under item (a), identifying areas of convergence and divergence among Members,
with a view to providing a basis to facilitate further negotiations;
(d) to prepare for the opportunity provided by  the Fifth Ministerial Conference to take
stock of progress made in the negotiations; and
(e) to finalize the negotiations under Article X by 15 March 2004.
II. SUBSIDIES
4. Having regard to Article XV of the GATS and paragraph 7 of the Negotiating Guidelines
(S/L/93)3, and with a view to structuring future work of the Working Party on GATS Rules, the
Working Party will organize its work on subsidies as follows –
(a) to continue discussion on subsidies on the basis of submissions from Members and
materials available;
(b) to encourage Members to put forward submissions on subsidies as early as possible
before 31 March 2003, without prejudice to Members’ right to put forward further
suggestions and raise relevant issues;
(c) the Chairperson to circulate a note by 30 June 2003 to report on the progress of work;
and
(d) to prepare for the opportunity provided by  the Fifth Ministerial Conference to take
stock of progress made in the negotiations.
III. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
5. Having regard to Article XIII of the GATS and paragraph 7 of the Negotiating Guidelines
(S/L/93)4, and with a view to structuring future work of the Working Party on GATS Rules, the
Working Party will organize its work on government procurement as follows –
(a) to continue discussion on government procurement on the basis of submissions from
Members and materials available;
(b) to encourage Members to put forward submissions on government procurement as
early as possible before 31 March 2003, without prejudice to Members’ right to putforward further suggestions and raise relevant issues;
(c) the Chairperson to circulate a note by 30 June 2003 to report on the progress of work;
and
(d) to prepare for the opportunity provided by  the Fifth Ministerial Conference to take
stock of progress made in the negotiations.
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3 Paragraph 7 of the Negotiating Guidelines (S/L/93) states inter alia  that “Members shall aim to complete
negotiations under Articles VI:4, XIII and XV prior to the conclusion of negotiations on specificcommitments”.
4 See footnote 3.