RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS/C/M/58
14 May 2002
(02-2671)
Council for Trade in Services
REPORT ON THE SPECIAL ME ETING HELD ON 15 MARCH 2002
Note by the Secretariat
1. The Council for Trade in Services held a special meeting on 15 March 2002.  The agenda for
the meeting is contained in document WTO/AIR/1730.  The Chairman proposed that the Council
adopt the agenda as circulated.
2. The Council so agreed.
NEGOTIATIONS UNDER ARTICLE X OF THE GATS (EMERGENCY SAFEGUARDS ) – EXTENSION OF
THE DEADLINE FOR NEGOTIATIONS
3. On the basis of the communication from the Chairman of the Working Party on GATS Rules
contained in document (S/C/W/205/Rev.1) the Chai rman of the Council proposed that the Council
adopt the draft decision contained in that communication.
4. The representative of Philippines stated that the ASEAN attached great importance to the
issue of an extension on the deadline of negotiations on emergency safeguard measures under
Article X of the GATS, and wanted to engage actively in the negotiations.  The fact that the
negotiations had now been extended for the fourth  time on the basis of consensus reflected a strong
and common desire of Members as a whole and to ASEAN countries in particular to overcome
problems and address in depth concerns raised by Members during the past years.  However, despitethe importance of this issue the Philippines pointed out the enormous amount of time spent in the last
two years on the ESM, without significant progressi ve.  The Philippines hoped that over the period of
the next two years Members would wish to have constructive negotiations and provide ample room
for flexibility to contemplate proposals put forward on the table in order to have regulations on ESM
in place as soon as possible.  The decisions Members had adopted thus far proved that political will
should prevail at all times in order to generate su ggestions with the view to coming up with a single
negotiating text, with or without brackets or reservations.
5. The Philippines would be holding consultations with other delegations in order to achieve
consensus, and with the Chairman of the WPGR when making proposed amendments.  In the spirit of
cooperation and making headway, developing countries wished for a programme to be prepared as
soon as possible to guide the Working Group in its future works in a constructive and meaningful
manner.
6. The representative of the European Communitie s thanked the Chairman for his hard work in
achieving the decision. Many delegations had to move and show considerable flexibility in order to
achieve this.  The EC looked forward to the cons ultations, which the Chair would hold to establish a
programme to take forward the work on all three issues currently.  Obviously such a work programme
could not and should not prejudge any outcome of the various negotiations.  The EC hoped that theconsultations on the work programme would not take too much time away from a very short
extension.  The EC also looked forward to disc ussing various contributions, including its own
contribution, on the mode and application of potential ESM in order to come up with a better
understanding of the various issues involved.
7. The Council so agreed.
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