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S/CSC/M/91  
 
21 March 2023 
(23-2044) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Specific Commitments    
 
 
REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10 MARCH 2023 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
The Committee on Specific Commitments (CSC) held a meeting on 10 March 2023 chaired by  
Mr. Danang Prasta from Indonesia . The Chair person  added that under the item other business  of 
the agenda , he would say a few words about the appointment of the new Chairperson of the 
Committee and inform delegations of a presentation regarding the forthcoming Handbook on the 
Measurement of Digital Trade b y the Secretariat at the next meeting.  
 
The agenda for the meeting, contained in document WTO/AIR/CSC/ 20, was adopted  as modified .  
 
Before moving on to the substance of the meeting, the Chairperson drew Delegations' attention to 
the hybrid mode  meeting format , asking those attending on -line to allow a few seconds of streaming 
to ensure that the statement be heard in full. He also urged delegates, for the benefit of the 
interpreters, to speak at a reasonable and moderate pace and to provide a cop y of their written 
statement to help ensure that interventions were properly conveyed and understood in the three 
languages.   
 
1  ITEM A - IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS  
1.1.  The Chairperson  recalled that at previous meetings, the Committee had considered a proposal 
(S/CSC/W/73) from the delegation of Türkiye on implementation issues related to specific 
commitments and Article II (MFN) on cross -border supply of road transport services under the GATS. 
The proposal mainl y raised three questions for discussion: 1) the compatibility of imposing truck 
quotas with full market access commitments in Mode 1 on road transport services; 2) the 
understanding of "Unbound" in market access and "None" in national treatment with respec t to cross 
border supply of road transport; and 3) the MFN obligation with respect to all measures affecting 
international road transport including truck quotas, passage fees and customs measures . In 
particular, the Turkish delegation had made a detailed p resentation to help Members better 
understand these issues.  While d elegations had appreciated the Turkish proposal which was an 
important contribution to the Committee's work , the discussions had been preliminary without  
address ing the substance of the iss ues raised , probably due to the complexity of cross -border road 
transport . At the last meeting, the delegation of Türkiye had suggested that the Committee invite 
observer international organisations to share relevant studies they had undertaken in the road  
transport sector. There was no objection to this suggestion, but it was requested that Members be 
informed of these studies before the  presentation .  
1.2.  A representative of the Secretariat  stated that since the last meeting, the Secretariat ha d been 
reaching out to observer international organisations to see whether they conducted any studies or 
work that would help delegates better understand cross -border road transport , and the issues raised 
in the Turkish proposal so as to facilitate the disc ussion under this agenda item . The Secretariat  thus 
noted  three studies  that might be  relevant for this purpose. The first one  was Quantitative Analysis 
of Road Transport Agreement (QuARTA), a study by  the World Bank . This study was about bilateral 
road tr ansport agreement s between countries which were  the key instruments used to govern and 
regulate international road transport  services . These agreements var ied in scope and depth, but the 
details include d often reflect ed the market openness for road transport services between countries 
concerned, in particular the quota system , namely the key issue in the Turkish proposal. The World 
 
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.  S/CSC/M/91  
 
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  Bank study sought  to analyse road transport bilateral agreement s in a systemic manner by 
employing a consistent methodology to identify the defining characteristics of bilateral road transport 
agreements and the implications they m ight have on market integration . The main findings of the 
study include : the identification of general patterns abo ut bilateral agreement on road freight 
transport , their operation  in practi ce, and specific recommendation on the most appropriate content 
and coverage of bilateral agreements . The World Bank study  was intended to guide countries in their 
efforts to reform  their road transport sector. The second study was the Report on European R oad 
Freight Transport Market and the ECMT Multilateral Quota Perspectives . Since 1974, the European 
Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) ha d operated a quota system (referred  to as ECMT 
Multilateral Quota or Multilateral Quota) which grant ed multilateral authorisations (ECMT licences) 
for the operation of heavy goods vehicles between the Member States of the ECMT area. These 
licences enable d road hauliers to carry out an unlimited number of multilateral freight operations in 
43 European countries who participate d in the system. The ECMT Quota was managed by the ITF's 
Road Transport Group (RTG), which assign ed quota to the 43 member countries of the system and 
publishe d a user guide setting operational rules of the system. The basic quota was determined 
every year by ECMT. The system was monitored and administered by the Secretariat of the 
International Transport Forum (ITF). The report describ ed the function and impacts of the 
multilateral quota system in the European road transport market . The third study, the UNESCAP  
Monograph Series on Facilitation of International R oad Transport in Asia and the Pacific. This study 
provide d comprehensive inf ormation on the overall development of international road transport in 
the Asia and Pacific region. In particular, it outline d the key elements affecting the smooth flow and 
efficiency of international road transport, in particular quota system s, and analy sed problems and 
possible solutions, such as traffic rights and permits, visas for drivers and the temporary importation 
of vehicles. It also present ed a regional strategic framework on facilitation of international road 
transport and recommended regional strategies for the removal of barriers impeding the 
development of international road transport .  
1.3.  The Chairperson  thanked the Secretariat for the introduction  and thought  it positive to have 
the presentation of the studies by the three organisations . Before giving the floor to the delegation 
of Türkiye, he  express ed his sincere condolences to the people of T ürkiye for the devastating 
earthquake  that had happened the month before , and he hoped that the people impacted by this 
earthquake w ould have a speed y recovery .   
1.4.  The representative of Türkiye  thank ed the Secretariat for reaching out to prominent 
international organizations in order to facilitate and advance the discussion under this agenda item.  
He recalled that  Türkiye had circulated the communication S/CSC/W/73 (dated 7 March 2022) which 
was intende d to draw attention to the fact that road freight transportation sector was prone to and 
deeply affected by numerical restrictions primarily in the form of freight transport quotas . These 
numerical restrictions  create d a difficult situation for the impleme ntation of Members’ commitments 
as well as market access and national treatment obligations. His delegation  had also made a 
presentation on this issue at the meeting of  1 July the previous  year. He recalled  the suggest ion 
made  at the last CSC meeting on 5 December 2022 that examining the work and studies done by 
relevant international organizations might  help Members gain a better insight into the core of the 
problem. His delegation  looked forward to hearing the views and perspectives of such organizations  
on international road freight transportation at the following CSC meeting.  Following the COVID 
Pandemic, with the container crisis, the need for discussing and tackling road transport issues had 
become even more prominent. While the level and range of GATS commitments in road transport 
was limited , the existing commitments seem ed compromised or circumvented by bilateral 
arrangements that entail ed numerical restrictions.  Therefore, it was timely and worthwhile for the 
CSC to examine the road transport sector and practices therein and better understand the 
implications and consequences for Members’ commitme nts.    
1.5.  Knowing that international road freight transportation was a broad and complex topic , Türkiye 
suggested  that the organizations invited to share their work at  the next CSC meeting focus their 
presentations on the issue of transportation quota s which was the main issue of scrutiny in Türkiye’s 
communication S/CSC/W/73 circulated last year. Some of the questions that these organizations 
might reflect on in their presentations would include: Why are there quotas in international road 
transportation, in the first place? Why are they needed? What are their functions?  As international 
organizations, how do they view such quotas? Why do bilateral sch emes and quotas, rather than 
harmonized international mechanisms  dominate the sector? In addition to t he org anizations 
mentioned by the Secretariat, Türkiye  thought  it would also be beneficial to listen to the views and 
experiences of the International Roa d Transport Union – IRU, as they would be in a good position to S/CSC/M/91  
 
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  provide a private sector perspective on the issue.  Türkiye  agree d with the concerns of some 
delegations expressed at  the previous meeting . The views of these organizations should not be 
construed as interpreting  Members' GATS commitments. The ultimate objective of their 
presentations should be to provide  technical feedback s on the core of the subject so as to help 
advance the discussion under this agenda item. After listening to these  organizations, Members 
might  be in a better position to decide on the  need for further work on this topic  in the CSC.  Türkiye  
thank once again to th e Secretariat for the valuable coordination with relevant international 
organizations, and look ed forward to Me mbers’ active engagement and contributions.    
1.6.  The Chairperson  suggested that the Secretariat reach out to the World Bank , the OECD , 
UNESCAP  and IRU to invite them to share their work on road transport.  
1.7.  The representative of India indicated that the WTO  was a Member -driven organisation . While 
the observer  international organisations could come to speak  in their capacity as observers , India 
was not sure about the participation  of the private sector in the Committee . She would need t o take 
back the proposal to her capital .  
1.8.  The Chairperson  suggested that the Secretariat reach out to the World Bank, OECD and 
UNESCAP and invite the representatives of these organizations to share their work on road transport 
at the next meeting of the Committee. He also thanked Türkiye for its important contrib ution to the 
Committee work and for the delegations' engagement. He encouraged Members to contribute to the 
substantive discussion at the next meeting.  He then suggested that the Committee take note of the 
statement made and revert to th at agenda item at i ts next meeting.   
1.9.  It was so  agreed . 
2  ITEM B - CLASSIFICATION ISSUES  
2.1.  The Chairperson  recalled that at the previous  meeting  of the CSC , the UN Statistics Division 
and the WTO Secretariat had presented a new functionality of the visualization tool that enable d the 
navigation between the W/120 and the different CPC versions. Members' feedbacks were welcome 
to help improve this digital tool.  As the previous presentations by the UN Statistics Division and the 
WTO Secretariat under this agenda item ha d shown , the Committee provide d a good forum for 
Members to catch up with the evolution in services classifications and improve collective 
understanding. He therefore encourage d Members to take advantage of this forum and continue 
with useful discussions.  
2.2.  No inte rvention was made under this item.  The Chairperson  suggested that the Committee 
revert to this agenda item at its next meeting.  
2.3.  It was so agreed .  
3  ITEM C – SCHEDULING ISSUES  
3.1.  No intervention was made under this item.  
3.2.  The Chairperson  suggested that the Committee revert to th at agenda item at its next meeting.  
3.3.  It was so agreed .  
4  ITEM D – FUTURE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE  
4.1.  The Chairperson  recalled that he held consultations on future work of the Committee. For this 
purpose, he had reached ou t to delegates with the following questions in light of the Committee's 
mandate: 1) Building upon recent experience, how the Committee could continue to fulfil its mandate 
in monitoring the implementation of specific commitments and improve the transparenc y of specific 
commitments ; 2) In view of the changing landscape of trade in services, as well as the increasing 
role of services trade in development, how the Committee could move forward its technical 
discussion that benefits the entire membership ; 3) How the Committee could facilitate Members' 
understanding and application of the procedures for the modification and certification of schedules 
of specific commitments.  S/CSC/M/91  
 
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  4.2.  Delegations he had consulted with were all very cooperative. Several delegates had express ed 
interest in knowing more about the procedures for the modification and certification of GATS 
schedules, either through discussions in the Committee or through an information session by the 
Secretariat. Some delegates had noted the good experience in the  Committee whereby specific 
issues were raised in written proposals for discussion, such as the discussion on the implementation 
of conditional commitments based on the US proposal and the ongoing discussion on the 
implementation of road transport commitme nts based on the Turkish proposal. The monitoring and 
technical deliberation functions of the Committee were also highlighted. One idea floated was for the 
Committee to conduct a mapping exercise of specific commitments and regulatory regimes by sector 
and by group of Members so as to have a better transparency of specific commitments, including 
their implementation.  
4.3.  The representative of the Russian Federation  support ed the Chairperson's  efforts to 
reinvigorat e the work of the Committee  and confirmed that  all the identified elements  were of 
interest  to his delegation . He confirmed his delegation was  ready to engage in future work.  
4.4.  The representative of Thailand  thanked the Chair  for his consultation s on future work of the 
Committee . Regarding  the third question, she noted that  it was  with the help of the Secretariat  that 
Thailand, like other s, had gone through the certification procedures before. She confirmed that it 
would be useful to have a session or training on the procedure s for the modification and certification 
of schedule s for Members to  have a better understanding on the process , the timeline, and the 
preparation  of relevant documents, which would contribute to improving the transparency of specific 
commitment s. 
4.5.  The representative of China  thanked the Chair for the report of his consultations before this 
meeting. He reiterated China 's view  that there was still a lot of work that this Committee  could do  
in the future. The Secretariat could provide assistance  in the area of scheduling , and the Committee 
could have  further discussions on  classification issues. Despite not having been able to provide any 
written submission yet, he thought that  there was a need f or Members to kn ow more about 
procedure related issues , as expressed  by Thailand.  He enquired if a written proposal was needed 
to have an  Information Session , or if Members requesting the Secretariat would be enough . 
4.6.  In responding to China, t he Chairperson  confirmed that a proposal was not needed . It was 
upon Members' request.  
4.7.  The representative of Switzerland  thanked the Chair for his recent consultations.  At this stage, 
he would limit his comments to the third topic : the procedure s for the modification and certification 
of schedules. Members were aware of ongoing consultation s amongst some delegations. Therefore,  
if there was a request by some Members for a presentation on the certification procedures, it would 
be good to have it in an informal setting . His delegation w ould be however uncomfortable with this 
being done formally in this committee  at that point in time .  
4.8.  The representative of the United States  thanked the Chair for his  informal consultations and 
for his report . He supp orted the comments made by Switzerland , reiterating that it was a sensitive 
time to have the requested presentation  in the Committee , and suggest ed proceeding  on an informal 
basis. If Members ha d questions , they could get the information needed. He enquire d about the  
mapping exercise  mentioned , as he needed to understand in order to review that in detail before 
agreeing . 
4.9.  The representative of China  echoed the statement s made  by Switzerland and the United States 
that an information session or a briefing on scheduling issues  and modification of schedules should 
be in informal mode , given the sensitive and technical nature of  that presentation.  
4.10.  The Chairperson  indicated that the Secretariat could hold an Information Session on th e 
procedures for th e modification and certification of schedules . He would also continue to consult with 
delegations on how best to proceed, balancing the needs for a better understanding of the 
procedures and the concerns on the sensitivity of the ongoing process.  He then  suggested that the 
Committee take note of the statements made and revert to that agenda item at its next meeting.  
4.11.  It was so agreed .  S/CSC/M/91  
 
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  5  ITEM E - OTHER BUSINESS  
5.1.  As mentioned at the beginning of the meeting, the Chairperson  informed delegations that the 
handove r of the chairmanship of the Committee should normally take place at the end of the first 
meeting each year.  However, since the consultations conducted by the out -going Chair of the CTS 
were still ongoing, the handover would have to be postponed.  
5.2.  He also  recalled that the Committee had adopted an agreement at its meeting of 
16 November  2010 that the Committee should regularly be updated on changes and developments 
in services classification and in statistical systems relating to international services tra de. In this 
context, at the meeting on 28 October 2019, the Secretariat had made a presentation on the 
developments in the measurement of digital trade by the international statistical community. Since 
then, the WTO Secretariat had continued to improve the  measurement of digital trade in partnership 
with other international organizations, in particular the OECD, IMF and UNCTAD. He proposed that 
at the next meeting of the Committee, the WTO Secretariat would give a presentation on the 
forthcoming Version 2 o f the Handbook on the Measurement of Digital Trade , highlighting the latest 
developments focus ing on the conceptual framework, trade in services and related classification 
challenges.  
5.3.  The meeting was adjourned . 
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