S/C/59  
 
4 December 2019 
(19-8351) Page: 1/12 
   
 
 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE  COUNCIL FOR TRADE I N SERVICES  
TO THE GENERAL COUNC IL (201 9) 
 
Since its Annual Report of 201 8 to the General Council1, the Council for Trade in Services held five 
formal meetings, respectively on 7 December 2018, 21  March, 27  June, 29 -30 October (dedicated 
session to review the operation of preferences notified under the LDC services Waiver) and 
30 October 2019.2 During the period covered by this report, the Council ad dressed the following  
matters.  
1  NOTIFICATIONS MADE T O THE COUNCIL PURSUA NT TO GATS ARTICLES  III:3 , V:7 AND 
VII:4  
1.1.  The Council for Trade in Services took note, altogether, of the following notifications:  
a. Notifications pursuant to Article III:3 of the GATS  
Switzerland  S/C/N/922  
Japan   S/C/N/930  
New Zealand  S/C/N/931 - S/C/N/945  
Macao, China  S/C/N/9 46 
India  S/C/N/ 947 - S/C/N/950  
Senegal  S/C/N/955  - S/C/N/ 958 and  
  S/C/N/958 /Corr.1  
Hong Kong, China  S/C/N/874/Add.1  
Kazakhstan  S/C/N/960  
Lesotho  S/C/N/962 - S/C/N/9 68 
Bahrain, Kingdom of  S/C/N/969  
Australia  S/C/N/970  
b. Notifications pursuant to Article V:7 of the GATS  
Peru and Honduras  S/C/N/918  
Philippines, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway  S/C/N/919  
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada , Chile, Japan,  
 Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore  
 and Viet Nam  S/C/N/920  
European Union and Japan  S/C/N/92 1 
Hong Kong, China; and  Georgia  S/C/N/92 3 
United States and the Republic of Korea   S/C/N/ 621/Add.1  
Canada and Chile  S/C/N/ 65/Add.2  
Bangladesh, China, India, Lao PDR, Republic  of Korea  
 and Sri Lanka  S/C/N/9 54 
European Union and Armenia  S/C/N/959  
Chile and China  S/C/N/577/Add.1  
 
                                                
1 Document S/C/55.  
2 Reports of these meetings are contained in documents S/C/M/1 37 to S/C/M/ 141, with S/C/M/140  and 
S/C/M/ 141 forthcoming , and should be read in conjunction with this repo rt. S/C/59  
 
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  The agreements notified in these documents were referred to the Committee on Regional 
Trade Agreeme nts for consideration.  
c. Notifications pursuant to Article V II:4 of the GATS  
India  S/C/N/924 - S/C/N/929  
New Zealand and Australia  S/C/N/ 951 
Montenegro  S/C/N/9 52 - S/C/N/953  
Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and  S/C/N/961  
 Thailand  
1.2.  At the meeting held in March, the Council took note of the updated Secretariat Note containing 
a statistical account of the notifications made under relevant GATS provisions.3 Several Members 
observed that, as the Note detailed, developing countries and LDCs had submitted more GATS 
notifications, especially under Article III:3, than most developed countries. These Members called 
for a discussion of the reasons behind this discrepancy, while also stressing the need to take into 
account the capacity constraints face d by developing countries and LDCs with regard to notification 
obligations. One Member argued that, in light of the push to negotiate rules on e-commerce, 
investment facilitation and MSMEs, notifications of measures related to these areas that significantl y 
affected trade in services were especially relevant.  
1.3.  All Members who spoke underlined the importance of transparency. A delegation noted that 
the measures notified pursuant to GATS Article III:3 were significantly fewer than those listed in the 
Director -General's Report on trade -related developments , although the discrepancy might be partly 
explained by the fact that not all measures in the Report related to sectors where specific 
commitments had been undertaken.  This delegation, supported by several othe rs, called on 
Members to exchange views on how notification efforts under the GATS might be improved; in this 
regard, it suggested that the Council could consider examples of best practice in notifications; ways 
in which Capitals and the private sector mig ht be better involved in the notification process; whether 
sufficient time was provided for notifications to be analysed; whether some notifications, such as 
those under Article VII:4, could be jointly submitted by the Members concerned; and whether a 
central notification submission portal might prove useful for services trade measures. A couple of 
Members underscored the  interpretation and implementation challenges  of Article III:3, in terms of 
the subjective nature of the obligation and its relevance to " trade in services" rather than "services" 
more generally. Delegations who intervened stated that they looked forward to discussing those 
issues with interested Members, in different configurations.  
1.4.  One delegation noted that the Secretariat Note omitted the  notification obligation contained in 
paragraph 5(c) of the GATS Annex on Telecommunications.  
2  AN INCLUSIVE APPROAC H TO TRANSPARENCY AN D NOTIFICATION REQUI REMENTS IN 
THE WTO  
2.1.  At its October meeting, the Council addressed a communication on "An inclusive app roach to 
transparency and notification requirements in the WTO" from the African Group, Cuba, India and 
Oman.4 The co -sponsors highlighted that transparency was important for the operation and 
monitoring function of the WTO . They  noted that notifications r equired capacities that developing 
countries often lacked, called for e xisting obligations to be made  commensurate with Members ' level 
of development  and objected to proposals for new transparency obligations and punitive 
enforcement approaches.  
2.2.  They stated that transparency should not be pursued selectively, and noted that, based on the 
information produced by the Secretariat5, most  developed countrie s had submitted few er GATS 
notifications than developing countries and LDCs , particularly under  Article III:3 , and thus 
encouraged developed Members to improve submitting notifications. They argued that notifications 
of measures related to e -commerce, inve stment facilitation and MSMEs that significantly affected 
trade in services were especially relevant in light of the push to negotiate rules in these areas. The 
proponents advocated for improved transparency and notification in the WTO while emphasizing a 
                                                
3 Document JOB(09)/10/Rev. 9. 
4 Document JOB/SERV/292/R ev.2. 
5 Document JOB(09)/10/Rev. 9. S/C/59  
 
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  need to take into account the needs and requirements of developing and least developed countries 
in developing transparency in services, domestic rule -making as well as the international trading 
system itself.  
2.3.  Developed Members did not accept the co -sponso rs’ characterization of their implementation 
of GATS notification requirements, while expressing openness to engage in further discussions on 
the issue.  All the delegations who intervened said  that they shared the proponents' objective to 
improve transpar ency and compliance with notification requirements and welcomed suggestions 
about how this objective might be pursued. A number of Members acknowledged the capacity 
constraints faced by developing countries and, while appreciative of the Secretariat's tech nical 
assistance efforts in this area,  one delegation called for an examination of why it had not been 
enough to remedy the difficulties encountered  by developing countries with notifications. A couple 
of delegations welcomed the fact that the discussion w as taking place in the relevant WTO bodies 
with specific expertise.  
2.4.  Several Members stated their readiness to engage in a conversation on how transparency of 
services trade measures could be improved. A number of Members mentioned relevant suggestions 
that had been put forward at the March meeting. One delegation underlined its practice of developing 
services measures in a transparent and open manner and, while welcoming efforts to improve 
transparency, stressed that transparency had to be assessed in actu al practice and should not be 
only about a perfunctory submission of notifications.  Another delegation presented information 
about the manner in which it had organised its domestic consultations related to services 
notifications, and other delegations als o referred to the importance of domestic coordination 
processes.  
2.5.  The proponents said that they w ould be  updating their communication  in order  to reflect the 
many useful comments made and to see how to account for Agreement -specific issues , and indicated 
their intention to submit a draft decision on transparency to the General Council.  
3  OPERATIONALIZATION O F THE LDC SERVICES W AIVER  
3.1.  The Council discussed the operationalization of the LDC services  Waiver at all meetings held 
during the reporting period. As part  of the process to review the operation of preferences notified 
under the Waiver, it also held a dedicated session on 29 and 30 October 2019.  
3.2.  At the meeting held in December 2018, Members continued discussions of the LDC Group 
communication titled  "Possib le Elements for a Review of the Operation of Notified Preferences"6 and 
agreed to hold a dedicated session as part of the process to review the operation of the preferences 
notified under the Waiver  that was mandate d by the Nairobi Ministerial Decision.  They also agreed 
that the Chairman would engage with delegations to refine the format, date, content and overall 
organisation of the dedicated session. A couple of delegations shared information on the utilisation 
of the preferences notified and their efforts to enhance LDC participation in world services trade.  
3.3.  In March, the LDC Group informed the Council that its own consultations were still ongoing. A 
delegation shared information on the utilisation of the preferences it had notified, including  in relation 
to waiving visa fees.  
3.4.  At the June meeting, the Chairman informed Members that, following two rounds of informal 
consultations with the LDC Group and notifying Members, broad agreement had been found among 
participants to structure the dedicate d session in two parts: Part I would be a workshop, to allow 
Members and relevant stakeholders to exchange information related to the participation of LDCs in 
services trade, and Part II would be organised as a formal meeting of the Council. The Secretaria t 
had been asked to prepare a draft programme outline for the workshop7, based on the information 
and comments exchanged, while the Chairman had been requested to draw up the proposed agenda 
items for the formal meeting, together with an annotation to prov ide context and guidance to 
Members in preparing their participation in the meeting.8 The LDC Group had expressed a preference 
to hold the dedicated session in late October; as there had been no opposition to that suggestion, 
                                                
6 JOB/SERV/284.  
7 Document JOB/SERV/290.  
8 Document JOB/SERV/289.  S/C/59  
 
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  the Chairman proposed that the  workshop be held on 29  October and  the dedicated formal meeting 
on 30 October. The Council endorsed the proposed approach in its entirety.  
3.5.  At the start of the formal dedicated meeting held in October, the Chairman provided a factual 
account of the inform al workshop, titled "Facilitating the Increasing Participation of Least Developed 
Countries in Trade in Services", held the previous day.9 He stated that presentations and 
contributions had been rich and diverse, and had offered interesting and valuable in sights.  
3.6.  The Secretariat gave a presentation on the main trends in LDC services trade, focusing 
principally on bilateral trade, and highlighted in detail gaps in data collection and reporting.  The 
presentation prompted a number of questions, mostly revolv ing around what strategies and best 
practices could be put in place to improve data collection.   
3.7.  The LDC Group, and individual LDCs that intervened, noted the limitations that their service 
suppliers faced, such as infrastructural constraints, regulatory obstacles in export markets, 
insufficient financing or the high costs of obtaining insurance coverage. A couple of LDCs referred to 
the national strategies they had implemented related to services trade. Many LDCs underscored the 
significant data and infor mation gaps regarding their services exports and called on UNCTAD and 
ITC to help them, inter alia, identify those services sectors where they had a comparative advantage, 
and on the WTO Secretariat to continue with its efforts to remedy the shortcoming in  their trade 
data. 
3.8.  The LDC Group thanked all Members having notified preferences under the Waiver and called 
on those that had not yet submitted notifications to do so. They underlined the elements in the 
preferences notified that they had found to be of p articular value, called on notifying Members to do 
more to orient LDC suppliers to the preferences granted and to build awareness in their markets 
about those preferences. They noted the importance of the Waiver but also argued that preferences 
needed to g o hand -in-hand with a strengthening of their domestic supply capacity, and called on 
Members to undertake further capacity -building and technical assistance efforts to this end. A 
number of LDCs pointed to visa, stay and work permit requirements, lack of a ccreditation of their 
institutions and non -recognition of qualifications as amongst the most significant export obstacles 
that their service suppliers faced.   
3.9.  Many notifying Members intervened, with several indicating that the information shared at the 
workshop had been helpful to understand the challenges faced by LDC exporters. Most noted the 
supply -side constraints, as also highlighted by the LDCs themselves, and underscored the need to 
look beyond the Waiver and take a more holistic approach to increas e the participation of LDCs in 
world services trade. A number emphasised that it was important  for the Waiver preferences to be 
complemented by Aid for Trade and other relevant capacity -building initiatives.  
3.10.   Many of the notifiers noted the need for better  statistics and for further assistance to be 
provided to LDCs with regard to data collection. Several also remarked that the available data 
showed that most LDCs exports went to neighbouring markets.  
3.11.   Given the various references made in the workshop to the  importance of the domestic 
regulatory environment, of attracting foreign investment and of the digital infrastructure, several of 
the notifiers referred to the relevance of the discussions under the JSIs on domestic regulation, 
investment facilitation and  e-commerce, and invited LDCs to engage in those initiatives.  
3.12.   Several delegations recalled the details of the preferences they had notified, with a number 
presenting the data they had been able to gather about the utilisation of their preferences; a couple  
of the notifiers  cautioned, however, that the information necessary to assess the use of their 
preferences did not exist. A number of Members also presented their development assistance efforts 
in favour of LDCs.  
3.13.   At its October meeting, the Council took n ote of the dedicated session that had just been 
held. 
                                                
9 The programme of the event with speakers' presentations and remarks may be accessed at: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/workshop291019_e.htm . S/C/59  
 
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  3.14.   To date, t he Council has received a total of 24 notifications of preferences in favour of LDC 
services and service suppliers, on the part of 51 Members.10 As the Operationalization of the LDC 
Services Wa iver is a standing item on its agenda, the Council will take up  the issue  again at its next 
formal meeting .  
4  WORK PROGRAMME ON EL ECTRONIC COMMERCE  
4.1.  The Council discussed the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce at all its formal meetings, 
in accordance wit h the  Buenos Aires  Ministerial mandate to continue the work under the Work 
Programme and endeavour to reinvigorate work  by Members .  
4.2.  At the December  2018 meeting, India drew Members' attention to the communication 
submitted to the General Council  jointly w ith South Africa, titled "Moratorium on customs duties on 
electronic transmissions : Need for a re -think"11, and affirmed that the Moratorium's implications 
needed be re -examined. Numerous other delegations referred to their own position on the 
Moratorium as articulated at the General Council , and noted that dedicated discussions on that issue 
were taking place in that forum .  
4.3.  One Member was of the view that, given that e -commerce presented not only opportunities 
but also challenges, particularly for developing countries, suggestions for WTO rules on  e-commerce 
were premature. This delegation reiterated its  conce rns with regard to the plurilateral Joint 
Statement Initiative  (JSI) on e-commerce, which it viewed as running counter to the exploratory 
mandate of the multilateral Work Programme  on Electronic Commerce . Another delegation noted 
that the JSI was an open a nd transparent process, where ideas were welcomed.  
4.4.  At the March meeting, China presented information on its new Electronic Commerce Law, the 
United States reported on its initiative with Lao PDR on digital economy issues and Australia shared 
information about its "Tech Future" digital economy strategy. All  delegations who intervened 
expressed appreciation for the information and experiences shared. Many Members called for work 
under the Work Programme to continue and be inte nsified, and to focus on the issues of relevance 
to developing countries  and LDCs . Several Members said that it was premature to consider 
negotiating rules on e -commerce, and one delegation reiterated its serious concern s with plurilateral 
e-commerce discussions under the  JSI. 
4.5.  In June, the United States introduced a submission on "The Eco nomic Benefits of Cross -Border 
Data Flows"12, intended to  both reinvigorate work under the Work Programme and complement 
efforts in the JSI negotiations. All delegations who intervened expressed appreciation for the US 
submission . Several said that the comm unication illustrated the importance of data flows for digital 
trade in different sectors; a couple noted that data flows could contribute to improving the economic 
participation of under -represented groups; and a few others observed that obligations were 
increasingly being placed on companies in relation to data flows.  
4.6.  A number of Members underscored the point in the submission about the importance of finding 
a balance between the free cross -border flow of data and the pursuit of public policy objectives.  
Certain delegations maintained that the paper focused excessively on the benefits of data flows and 
did not adequately discuss the risks. Noting that data was a critical asset, they said that data 
ownership and localisation were essential  for developing c ountries' economic development. LDCs 
called for discussions to focus on their experience and the challenges they faced.  
4.7.  Some delegations were supportive of the suggestion in the US submission that international 
groups having carried out work on the issue of data flows, like the OECD or APEC, be invited to 
present it to the Council. Other delegations called for UNCTAD to be invited to contribute as well. 
One delegation cautioned against the WTO discussing privacy regimes, underscoring that privacy 
was not a  trade issue but a fundamental right.  
                                                
10 Notifications  were submitted by: Australia; Brazil; Canada; Chile;  China; the European Union; 
Hong Kong, China; Iceland;  India; Japan;  the Republic of Korea ; Liechtenstein ; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; 
Panama;  Singapore; South Africa; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; Turkey; the United States and  
Uruguay.  
11 WT/GC/W/747.  
12 S/C/W/382.  S/C/59  
 
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  4.8.  Several delegations shared relevant experiences and information : China presented two case 
studies on how e -commerce could contribut e to inclusive and sustainable growth ; Canada shared 
information about relevant activi ties of its Trade Facilitation Office ; Egypt gave an overview of its 
new Consumer Protection Law ; and  New Zealand provided examples of the role of digital 
technologies and data flows in the agritech and gaming and apps sectors.  
4.9.  At the October meeting, the  United States provided additional clarifications on various 
questions that had been posed at the previous meeting about its submission, and a couple of 
delegations offered further observations on the US paper.  China presented a case -study on e -
commerce a nd poverty alleviation. One delegation noted the impeding expiry of the Moratorium and 
recalled its position and submissions13 on the issue made in the General Council, remarking that the 
Moratorium was an issue of a cross -cutting nature.  
4.10.   The Buenos Aires Ministerial Decision mandates the General Council  to hold  periodic review s 
of work under the Work Programme based on the reports submitted by the relevant WTO bodies. 
Pursuant to that mandate, in December 2018, and again in June 2019,  the Council agr eed that the 
Chairman would produce, under his own responsibility, a factual report of the essence of the 
discussions the Council had had under that agenda item up to th ose respective  points in time.14 In 
addition, in October the Council agreed that, since the 12th Ministerial Conference would not take 
place in December 2019 but in June 2020, the Chairman would produce, under his own responsibility, 
an additional report for the December meeting of the General Council.  
5  UPDATE OF THE SECRET ARIAT BACKGROUND NO TE ON MODE 4  
5.1.  The Council addressed this agenda item upon India's request. In December 2018, India put 
forward an earlier request that the Secretariat update its 2009 Background Note on mode 415 and, 
following discussions with other delegations who had made suggestions, could agree that the 
Secretariat also update its two other modal Notes16 and produce an additional Note on inter -modal 
linkages. Various Members supported India's proposal. One delegation said that, although it failed 
to see why updating the mo dal Notes was necessary, it could be flexible. Another indicated that, in 
a spirit of compromise, it could support the production of new Notes on each mode of supply, rather 
than updates, either in one single document or in separate ones, provided that new  and relevant 
information or statistical updates were available. The Council agreed that the Chairman would have 
further contacts with the delegations concerned to see if an agreement could be reached.  
5.2.  At the March meeting, India reiterated its request tha t the Secretariat update its Note on 
mode  4, a request that was supported by a number of delegations. India could also agree that, 
based on the suggestions by other delegations, the Notes on the remaining modes of supply be 
updated as well, and that in add ition the Secretariat prepare a new Note on inter -modal linkages. A 
couple of delegations, however, sought additional clarifications on how the updated Note on mode 
4 would differ from the previous one, and questioned that there was significant new informa tion to 
justify an update. Some replies were provided.  
5.3.  At the June meeting, India repeated its request and indicated that it could explore the idea of 
the Secretariat producing new, rather than updated, Notes, given that it had been told that this 
would be  acceptable to the one delegation that had reservations. It wished to understand, however, 
what the specific concerns of that delegation were with regard to the previous Note. In response, 
that delegation clarified that it had been open to determining if a ny new relevant literature was 
available, but that it had never agreed or suggested that new Notes, on any of the modes of supply, 
would be appropriate; a Note on intermodal linkages, instead, would be novel and might be 
considered. At the October meeting,  noting that there appeared to be a misunderstanding, India 
restated its request, and asked the delegation that had reservations to confirm its position; the 
delegation in question confirmed that its position as expressed at the June meeting remained 
uncha nged.  
                                                
13 Documents WT/GC/W/747 and WT/GC/W/774.  
14 The report s are contained in documents S/C/56 and S/C/57 . 
15 Document S/C/W/301.  
16 Document S/C/W/304 on modes 1 and 2, and document S/C/W/314 on m ode 3.  S/C/59  
 
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  6  CYBERSECURITY MEASUR ES OF CHINA  
6.1.  At the request of Japan and the United States, at its December 2018 meeting the Council 
addressed the cybersecurity measures adopted and under development by China. The United States 
also submitted a communication unde r that agenda item.17 The two requesting delegations shared 
their concerns with  various aspects of  the measures at issue  and sought additional information and 
clarity on the same. They were echoed by several Members . After noting the challenge that all 
Memb ers faced in ensuring cybersecurity, China shared the replies it had already provided in the 
past and the reafter  reiterated its concerns about measures by the United States that it allege d might 
affect other Members’ cybersecurity interests . 
6.2.  At the March m eeting, at the request of Japan, the Council reverted to China's cybersecurity 
measures. Japan shared its continuing concerns with the measures at issue, and its statement was 
supported by a number of Members. China recalled the clarifications it had provi ded at the previous 
meeting and then raised  its own concerns about the definition of "critical infrastructure" in Japan's 
Action Plan on information security measures.  
6.3.  At the request of Japan and the United States, the Council reverted to China's cybersecu rity 
measures at its June meeting. Japan and the United States shared their persisting concerns with 
several aspects of China's Cybersecurity Law and implementing  measures and sought explanations 
from China about two new draft measures that had been recently released for comment. Several 
Members echoed the concerns raised . In reply, China provided preliminary feedback on the questions 
posed on its newly released draft measur es, and then shared some of its own concerns with a 
cybersecurity measure by the United States.  
6.4.  At the request of Japan and the United States, at its October meeting the Council again 
addressed  China's cybersec urity measures.  The two requesting delegations  raised their enduring 
concerns about China's cybersecurity measures, including its recently adopted Encryption Law, and 
sought various clarifications. Their concerns were echoed by several Members . China provided 
updates on its Encryption Law and offered responses to the questions raised.  
7  CYBERSECURITY MEASUR ES OF VIET NAM  
7.1.  At the request of Japan and the United States, at its December 2018 meeting the Council 
addressed Viet Nam's Law on Cybersecurity and related implementing measures. The two requesting 
delegations shared their concerns with the measures at issue . Their statements  were echoed by 
several Members . Viet Nam provided information about the relevant legislative process and indicated 
that the scope of some obligations in the measures at issue had been reduced.  
7.2.  The Council reverted to Viet Nam's cybersecurity measures, again at the request of Japan and 
the United States, at its March meeting. While the two requesting delegations appreciated Viet Nam's 
efforts to narrow down the scope of certain obl igations  in the measures at issue , they still had 
concerns with various elements. Their interventions  were echoed by  a number of Members . Viet Nam 
recalled the explanations provided at the previous meeting and reiterated that its legislative process 
was op en and transparent.  
7.3.  At the June meeting, Japan and the United States again requested the Council to address 
Viet Nam's cybersecurity measures. They sought clarifications on the status of the legislative process 
and urged Viet Nam to continue to engage with  stakeholders and take their comments into account. 
Their statement was echoed by several Members. Viet Nam underlined that its legislative process 
was open and transparent.  
7.4.  At the request of Japan and the United States, the Council addressed  Viet Nam's  cybersec urity 
measures again at its October meeting.  The two requesting delegations reiterated their continuing 
concerns with the measures at issue. T heir interventions were echoed by several Members . Viet Nam 
reiterated that its legislative process was open and transparent.  
                                                
17 Document S/C/W/378.  S/C/59  
 
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  8  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADE IN SERVICES  STATISTICS  
8.1.  At the October meeting of the Council, the Secretariat delivered a presentation on recent 
developments in trade in services statistics, which focused on the WTO's trade in services D ata Hub, 
technical assistance activities, latest developments and new initiatives. In reply to a question from 
a delegation, the Secretariat said that it would undertake outreach activities with national statistical 
compilers related to those developments.  
9  WORK OF THE SUBSIDIA RY BODIES  
9.1.  The activities of the subsidiary bodies in 201 9 are reflected in their respective reports, which 
are annexed to this report, as follows:  
 Annex I Report of the Committee on Trade in Financial Services (S/FIN/ 34) 
 Annex II  Report of the Committee on Specific Commitments (S/CSC/ 25) 
 Annex III  Report of the Working Party on Domestic Regulation (S/WPDR/ 23) 
 Annex IV  Report of the Working Party on GATS Rules (S/W PGR/30). 
 
 
_______________  
 
 S/C/59  
 
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  ANNEX I  
  
S/FIN/3 4 
 
21 November 201 9 
(19-7938) Page: 1/1 
   
 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE  COMMITTEE ON TRADE IN FINANCIAL SERVICE S 
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN  SERVICES (2019)  
 
1.1 Since its previous Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Committee on Trade 
in Financial Services held one formal meeting, on 28 October 2019.2  
1.2 At that meeting, the Committee addressed a pro posal by China to organize a thematic seminar 
on "FinTech: Trade, Financial Inclusion and Development" (document S/FIN/W/94). The proposal 
gathered broad support from Members. As suggested by Members, the Chairperson will hold 
consultations o n the program of the proposed event.  
 
 
_______________  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
1 S/FIN/33, dated 27 November 2018.  
2 The report of the formal meeting is contained in document S/FIN/M/93, and should be read in 
conjunction with this report.  
S/C/59  
 
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  ANNEX II  
  
S/CSC/2 5 
 
21 November 201 9 
(19-7939) Page: 1/1 
   
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE  COMMITTEE ON SPECIF IC COMMITMENTS  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR T RADE IN SERVICES (20 19) 
 
1. Since its 2018 annual report to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Committee on Specific 
Commitments (CSC) has held three formal meetings, on 19 March 2019, 24 June 2019 and 
28 October 2019 respectively.2  
2. At these meetings, further to a communication from the Kyrgyz Republic dated 7 March 21093, 
the Committee held substantive discussions on scheduling issue related to mode 4 including 
economic needs tests or labour market tests; categories of natural persons scheduled; and 
relationship between horizontal and sectoral commitments. In view of the ambiguity and lack of 
transparency in mode 4 commitments, the communication from the Kyrgyz Republic suggested some 
questions for discussion and possible future work for the Committee's consideration. In this context, 
a number of delegations also shared ex perience in their administration of labour market tests.  
3. At the meeting on 28 October 2019, the Secretariat made a presentation on recent 
developments in the measurement of digital trade by the international statistical community, with 
focus on the conc eptual framework, trade in services and related classification challenges.  
4. At the meeting on 28 October 2019, the Committee also considered possible future work based 
on the Chairperson's preceding consultations.   
 
 
 
_______________  
 
                                                
1 Annual Report of the Committee on Specific Commitments to the Cou ncil for Trade in Services (2018), 
contained in document S/CSC/24 dated 27 November 2018.  
2 The reports of these meetings are contained in documents S/CSC/M/79, S/CSC/M/80 and S/CSC/M/81 
(to be issued), which should be read in conjunction with this report.  
3 Document JOB/SERV/287.  
S/C/59  
 
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  ANNEX III  
  
S/WPDR/2 3 
 
21 November  2019 
(19-7937) Page: 1/1 
   
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE  WORKING PARTY ON DOM ESTIC REGULATION  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR T RADE IN SERVICES (20 19) 
 
1. Since its Annual Report of 2018 to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Working Party on 
Domestic Regulation held two formal meetings, on 5 December 2018 and 20 March 2 019.2 
2. At the formal meeting of 5 December 2018, the Working Party addressed a communication 
from India3 containing a draft for discussion on disciplines for supply of a service through the 
presence of a natural person of a Member in the territory of another Member.  India's introductory 
statement to their communication was circulated to Members.4 
3. During the formal meeting of 20 March 2019, the Working Party addressed a communication 
from India5 containing a revised draft for discussion on disciplines for supply of a service through 
the presence of a natural person of a Member in the territory of another M ember. India’s revised 
proposal introduced, inter alia , disciplines on application procedures and requirements for temporary 
entry related to fulfilment of domestic regulations under Article VI:4. India's introductory statement 
to their communication was c irculated to Members.6 While some Members expressed support, others 
raised questions or expressed doubt about whether this approach could lead to consensus.  
 
 
 
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1 S/WPDR/22, dated 27 November  2018.  
2 The reports of the meeting s are contained in documents S/WPDR/M/ 74 and S/WPDR/M/75. These 
should be read in conjunction with this report.  
3 S/WPDR/W/61, dated 26 November 2018 - Communication from India; GATS Article VI:4 – Disciplines 
for Supply of a Service through the Presence o f a Natural Person of a Member in the Territory of another 
Member.  
4 RD/SERV/151, dated 5 December 2018 - Unofficial Room Document from India – Opening statement 
made at the WPDR meeting on 5 December 2018.  
5 S/WPDR/W/61/Rev.1, dated 8 March 2019 - Communi cation from India; GATS Article VI:4 – 
Disciplines for Supply of a Service through the Presence of a Natural Person of a Member in the Territory of 
another Member – Revision.  
6 RD/SERV/152, dated 20 March 2019 - Unofficial Room Document from India – Openin g statement 
made at the WPDR meeting on 20 March 2019 - Revised Communication from India (S/WPDR/W/61/Rev.1).  
S/C/59  
 
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ANNEX IV  
  
S/WPGR/ 30 
 
21 November 201 9 
(19-7940) Page: 1/1 
   
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE  WORKING PARTY ON GA TS RULES  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR T RADE IN SERVICES (20 19) 
1. This report has been prepared pursuant to the Procedures for an Annual Overview of 
WTO Activities and for Reporting Under the WTO (WT/L/105).   
2. Since its 2018 annual report to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Working Party on GATS 
Rules  (WPGR) has held no meetings.  
 
__________  
 
                                                
1 Annual Report of the Working Party on GATS Rules to the Council for Trade in Services (2018), contained 
in document S/WPGR/29 dated 27 November 2018.