RESTRICTED  
  
S/C/W/ 433 
26 May 2023  
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Council for Trade in Services   
 
  
COMPARISON MATRIX OF THE CURRENT  FUNCTIONING OF  
THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES AND  
THE COMMITTEE ON SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
This Note has been prepared in response to a request by the Council for Trade in Services at its 
meeting on 11 March 2023.2 It provides, in a matrix format, an overview of the current functioning 
of the Council for Trade in Services (CTS) and of the Council's most active  subsidiary body, currently 
the Committee on Specific Commitments  (CSC). It is based on a similar comparison matrix issued 
by the Council for Trade in Goods ( document G/C/W/824 ), adjusted and simplified to take into du e 
consideration the scope of work of the  services bodies.  
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1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 Document S/C/M/153, paragraph 2.9.  S/C/W/433  
 
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COMPARISON MATRIX OF THE REPORTS ON THE  
CURRENT FUNCTIONING OF THE CT S AND THE CSC3 
Legend :  Y – Yes 
  N – Not implementing the measure  
  WP – Work in progress  
  NA – Not applicable  
Item  CTS CSC 
1. Assistance to Geneva delegates    
- Bilateral assistance to delegations ( e.g., meetings, email, etc.)  Yes Yes 
- Introductory session for Geneva -based delegates  on the  
functioning of the Committee  Yes Yes 
- Training on the substance and/or notifications aimed at Geneva -
based delegates  Yes Yes 
- Training on the digital tools aimed at Geneva -based delegates  NA NA 
- Functioning of the Committee discussed in ITTC's technical 
assistance activities for capital -based officials ( e.g., RTPCs)  No No 
2. Organization of Committee work    
2.1 Digital tools used for Committee work    
- Uses e -registration to identify recipients of emails addressed to 
Committee delegates  WP WP 
- Maintains an independent email or contacts list (Geneva and/or 
Capital -based delegates)  Yes Yes 
- Alerts of new documents through dedicated email list (Geneva 
and/or Capital -based delegates)  Yes Yes 
- Uses the eAgenda  No No 
- Developed specialized or dedicated database(s)  No No 
- Developed a dedicated web -based training system in addition to 
ITTC's e -learning)  No No 
2.2 Planning and organization of meetings    
- Secretariat coordinates with other WTO  bodies when setting 
meeting dates  Yes Yes 
- Secretariat coordinates with other relevant organizations when 
setting meeting dates  No No 
2.3 Formal meetings    
2.3.1 Communication before formal meetings    
- Oral reminder by the Chair at the end of the previous meeting  WP WP 
2.3.2 Number of formal meetings and duration  (2019 -2022)    
- Number of meetings  (Avg. N o. Meetings  per year ) 3.5 3 
- Duration (Avg. No. days)  0.8 0.5 
2.3.3 Preparation of Airgrams, Agendas, and Annotated Agendas    
- Committee m odified its initial Rules of Procedure  No No 
- Contents of the Airgram    
-- A list of all issues to be discussed at the meeting4 Yes Yes 
- Preparation of the Airgram  convening the formal meeting    
-- A reminder is emailed to Members indicating the date(s) of the 
meeting and when the agenda closes  Yes Yes 
-- A single version of the Airgram is circulated at least 10  days 
before the meeting5 Yes Yes 
-- The Airgram is the only document used to define the list of all 
issues to be discus sed6 Yes Yes 
- Preparation of an " annotated agenda " for the meeting    
-- Issued after the Airgram with a list of all items to be discussed 
at the meeting plus additional information from the Secretariat7  Yes Yes 
 
3 Only the current practices are reflecte d. 
4 Alternatively, some Committees issue a general  list of issues to be discussed , without the specific 
detail s. 
5 Alternatively, some Committees use  the e-Agenda or  email  a draft Airgram  to Members  before 
circulating the final Airgram.  
6 Alternatively, some Committees provide a detailed list of items (e.g., STCs) that is made available 
separately from the Airgram.  
7 Alternatively, some Committees issue the annotated agenda before  the Airgram to guide the 
preparation of the Airgram, set dea dlines for including items and submitting documents, etc.  S/C/W/433  
 
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  Item  CTS CSC 
-- Includes additional information8 provided by Members 
concerning the issues to be discussed at the meeting  Yes Yes 
2.3.4 Distribution of documents for formal meetings    
- All documents submitted are made available through Documents 
Online (documents for meetings)  Yes Yes 
- Documents are available through the link to the meeting in the 
calendar on the WTO website  Yes Yes 
- Presentations are made available to Members after the meeting  Yes Yes 
2.3.5 Conduct of the meeting    
- Time restrictions have been implemented  No No 
2.3.6 Communication shortly after formal meetings    
- Secretariat emails a "deadlines document" or similar with the 
deadlines for the following meeting  No No 
- The Chairperson or Secretariat sends an email to delegates 
describing the key outcomes of the formal meeting  No No 
- The Secretariat prepares a "news item" for publication on the 
WTO website  Yes Yes 
2.3.7 Preparation of the Minutes/Summary Reports    
- Prepares Minutes  reflecting  all discussions at the formal meeting 
in indirect speech style9 Yes Yes 
- Prepares Summary Reports reflecting all discussions at the 
formal meeting  No No 
- Length  of the Minutes  (Avg. No. pages in 2019-2022)  26 6 
- Time between the formal meeting and circulation of the Minutes   
(Avg. No. working days  in 2019-2022)  25 30 
- Average share of statements received from delegations before  
the meeting  (for the interpreters ) 10% 5% 
- Average share of statements received from delegations after the 
meeting  20% 20% 
2.4 Informal meetings    
2.4.1 Communication to convene informal meetings    
- The Secretariat sends an email to delegates convening the 
informal meeting  Yes Yes 
- The email is also given a document symbol and made available in 
Documents Online (ICN/  document series)  Yes WP 
- Informal meetings taking place back -to-back with the formal 
meeting are also convened through the Airgram  No No 
- An annotated agenda is prepared  for informal meetings  No No 
2.4.2 Number of informal meetings and duration  (2019 -2022)    
- Number of meetings  (Avg. No. Meetings  per year ) 1 1 
- Duration (Avg. No. days)  0.3 0.2 
2.4.3 Number of days of advance notice before informal meeting  
(2019 -2022)    
- Notice (Avg. No. days)  7 7 
2.4.4 Record of discussions at the informal meeting    
- A general summary of the discussions is provided by the 
Chairperson at the next formal meeting and included in the 
minutes / summary report  Yes Yes 
- The Chairperson systematically sends a communication to 
Members with the list of key outcomes of the informal meetings  No No 
- The communication with the list of outcomes is circulated as an 
addendum to the ICN  document  NA NA 
2.5 Thematic sessions    
- Organizes sessions to discuss specific topics, including thematic 
sessions, working groups, experience -sharing sessions, dedicated 
sessions, etc.  Yes Yes 
-- Number of meetings  (Total No. Meetings  in 2019 -2022)  1 1 
-- Duration  (No. days ) 0.5 0.5 
- Organizes workshops or similar events, which may include the 
participation of the private sector and other stakeholders  Yes NA 
-- Number of meetings (Total No. of meetings  in 2019-2022)  2 NA 
-- Duration (Avg. No. days)  (2019 -2022)  0.5 NA 
 
8 Includes additional information such as  a brief description of the matter (s) to be discussed , for 
example.  
9 Alternatively, some Committees prepare  the Minutes replicating Members ' direct speech, or indicating 
only the main points set out in the statements.  S/C/W/433  
 
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  Item  CTS CSC 
3. Notifications    
- Secretariat has updated the relevant section of the ITTC's 
Notifications Handbook  Yes NA 
- Has reviewed and/or agreed to new notification procedures or 
formats over the last 10  years  No NA 
- A reminder of pending notifications is emailed to delegates 
(separate from CRN's calls and reminders)  No NA 
- Secretariat prepares one or more reports with the status of 
notification obligations  Yes NA 
- Secretariat prepares a report analysing the contents of the 
notification s No NA 
- A dedicated system allows Members to notify online and feed a 
database directly  No NA 
- A dedicated database provides information on the notifications  
received  Yes NA 
4. Trade concerns or Q&A  processes    
- Regularly discussed in the Committee meetings  Yes No 
- Has adopted special procedures for the discussion of trade 
concerns or Q&As  No No 
- Keeps a document or a dedicated database with a list of all trade 
concerns or Q&As raised at the Committee  (e.g., WTO Trade 
Concerns Database)  No No 
- Secretariat prepares a report analysing the trends or type of 
trade concerns or questions submitted to the Committee  No No 
5. Reports  and notes  by the Secretariat    
- Secretariat prepares draft annual reports for review and approval 
by the Committee  Yes Yes 
- Types of Secretariat reports and notes analysing specific issues 
prepared for the Committee    
-- Regular reports r elating to notifications  (e.g., status of 
notification obligations, compilation on Members' enquiry and 
contact points)  Yes NA 
-- Relating to trade concerns or Q&As   No NA 
-- Relating to other issues under the Committee's purview  (e.g., 
background notes and ad hoc  reports requested by Members ) Yes Yes 
6. Participation by external stakeholders    
- Several international organizations (IOs) are observers to the 
Committee  Yes Yes 
-- IOs regularly attend the Committee meetings  Yes No 
-- IOs take the floor at the Committee meetings  Yes No 
- The Committee interacts with the private sector , academia, civil 
society, or other stakeholders  (e.g.,  at workshops  and similar 
events ) Yes Yes 
- Chairperson or Secretariat participates in meetings of other 
international organizations on issues related to matters addressed 
in the Committee  Yes No 
7. Work with other Committees or WTO  bodies    
- Organizes joint activities with other WTO bodies  No NA 
- Coordinates its regular work with other WTO  bodies (beyond the 
coordination to set dates of meetings)  NA NA 
- Secretariat team occasionally participates in meetings or liaises 
with other WTO  bodies concerning the work of the Committee  Yes NA 
8. Number of staff members    
- Number of staff members involved in servicing  the body10 3 3 
 
__________  
 
10 The figure represents the total number of professional and support staff, and excluding the Divisional 
Director , that are involved in servicing the body . The figure does not indicate full -time engagement of these 
staff members as they perform many additional activities .