S/C/N/805  
 
29 May 2015  
(15-2839)  Page: 1/6  
Council for Trade in Services  Original: English  
 
 NOTIFICATION OF AUSTRALIAN PREFER ENTIAL TREATMENT TO SERVICES  
AND SERVICES SUPPLIERS OF LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
The following notification from the delegation of Australia, dated 29 May 2015, is being circulated 
to the Members of the Council for Trade in Services. 
 
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 The Permanent Mission of Australia to the World Trade Organization in Geneva has the honour to notify to the World Trade Organization Council fo r Trade in Services the preferential treatment 
which Australia has made available to services and services suppliers of least-developed countries 
in accordance with the decision by Ministers at the WTO’s Eighth Ministerial Conference on Preferential Treatment to Services and Se rvice Suppliers of Least-Developed Countries  
(WT/L/847), and the decision by Ministers at the WTO’s Ninth Ministerial Conference on 
Operationalization of the Waiver Concerning Pr eferential Treatment to Services and Services 
Suppliers of Least-Developed Countries (WT/L/918), with effect from 1 June 2015. 
 
The preferential treatment is made in sectors an d modes of supply that are of particular export 
interest to least-developed countries, as set out in The Collective Request Pursuant to the Bali 
Decision on the Operationalization of the LDC Serv ices Waiver Concerning Preferential Treatment 
to Services and Service Suppliers of Least Developed Countries (S/C/W/356).  Australia intends to 
maintain these preferences for the period of the Waiver.  
1  HORIZONTAL  
1.1.  Measures concerning the entry and temporary stay of natural persons in the following 
categories: 
a. Contractual service suppliers (including independent professionals/specialists) being 
natural persons with trade, technical or professional skills. 
b. Entry and stay is subject to employer sponso rship.  Full details of employer sponsorship 
requirements, including the list of eligible occupations for sponsorship, are available on 
the website of the Australian government department responsible for immigration 
matters (as at date of notification, the a ddress of that website was www.immi.gov.au.)  
Sponsorship requirements, including eligible occupations, may change from time to time.   
c. Entry is for periods of stay up to 12 mont hs, with the possibility of further stay. 
2  SECTOR-SPECIFIC 2.1.  The following preferential treatment is ma de available with respect to the application of 
measures described in Article XVI of the Genera l Agreement on Trade in Services, subject to 
limitations set out the Horizontal Commitments section of Australia’s Schedule of Specific Commitments (GATS/SC/6). 
2.2.  Unless otherwise stated, all CPC references correspond to the 1991 provisional Central 
Product Classification (CPC) of the United Nations Statistical Office.  The appearance of ** against 
individual CPC listings indicates that the service specified constitutes only a part of the total range S/C/N/805  
 
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  of activities covered by the CPC concordance.  The entry "Unbound*" means unbound due to lack 
of technical feasibility. 
Travel, Tourism, Hospitalit y and Conference Services 
Sector or subsector  Limitations on market access  
9. TOURISM AND TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES  
Travel agencies and tour operator services 
 (CPC 7471) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
 
Transport and Logistics Related Services 
Sector or subsector  Limitations on market access  
11. TRANSPORT SERVICES  
Maritime auxiliary services  
Maritime cargo handling services 
Covers activities exercised by stevedore companies, 
including terminal operators, but not including the direct activities of dockers, when this workforce is organised independently of the stevedoring of 
terminal operator companies.  The activities 
covered include the organisation and supervision of: 
1. the loading/discharging of cargo to/from a ship; 
 
2. the lashing/unlashing of cargo; and  
3. the reception/delivery and safekeeping of 
cargoes in the wharf area before shipment or 
after discharge. 
The organisation and supervision includes the arrangements for  
1. engaging skilled labour (dockers),  
2. using all the necessary equipment for on-board 
or shore use and the appropriate storage space, 
whether by ownership, rental or otherwise,  
3. the checking of parcels and markings, the 
weighing and measuring of cargo (upon request 
of the owner), and  
4. the administrative duties as well as the 
responsibility related to the services. 
Container terminal operators can furthermore be 
appointed for stuffing/stripping containers and e.g. 
the survey and supply of electricity to containers. 1) Unbound*  
2) None 
3) Licences/concessions are granted by port authorities. Public utility concession or licensing 
procedures may apply in the case of 
the occupation of the public domain for the conduct of these activities. 
4)   Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section.  In addition there is a requirement for shore 
labour to undertake loading and 
unloading of ships under the Navigation Act 2012. 
Customs clearance services 
Covers activities consisting in carrying out on behalf 
of another party customs formalities concerning 
import, export or through-transport of cargoes, 
whether this is the main activity of the service 
provider or a usual complement of its main activity. 1) Unbound* 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
Maritime agency services Covers activities consisting in representing, within a 
given geographic area, as an agent, the business 
interests of one or more shipping line or shipping companies, for the following purposes: 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal section. S/C/N/805  
 
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  Sector or subsector  Limitations on market access  
- marketing and sales of maritime transport and 
related services, from quotation to invoicing, 
and issuance of bills of lading on behalf of the 
companies; acquisition and resale of the 
necessary related services, preparation of 
documentation, and provision of business 
information acting on behalf of the companies 
organising the call of the ship or taking over 
cargoes when required.  
C. Air Transport Services  
Ground handling services 
Covers the supply at an airport, on a fee or contract 
basis, of the following: airline representation, 
administration and supervision; passenger 
handling; baggage handling; ramp services; 
catering (except the preparation of the food); air 
cargo and mail handling; fuelling of an aircraft; 
aircraft servicing and cleaning; surface transport; 
and flight operations, crew administration and flight 
planning. Ground handling services do not include 
self-handling; security; line maintenance; aircraft 
repair and maintenance; or management or 
operation of essential centralised airport 
infrastructure such as de-icing facilities, fuel 
distribution systems, baggage handling systems, 
and fixed intra-airport transport systems. 1) Unbound* 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
Airport operation services 
Covers the supply of air terminal, airfield and other 
airport infrastructure operation services on a fee or 
contract basis. Airport operation services do not include air navigation services. 1) Unbound* 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal section. 
Selling and marketing of air transport services1 
Confirms, without extending, the application to air 
transport services of the following: 
- Travel agencies and tour operator services 
(CPC 7471); 
- Market research and public opinion polling 
services (CPC 864); 
- Advertising services (CPC 87110, 87120**, 
87190) covers services by advertising agencies 
in creating and placing advertising in 
periodicals, newspapers, radio and television for 
clients; outdoor advertising; media 
representation i.e. sale of time and space for 
various media; distribution and delivery of 
advertising material or samples.  Does not 
include production or broadcast/screening of 
advertisements for radio, television or cinema; 
and 
 1) None, except: 
Retailing services (CPC 631**, 
63211**, 63212, 61112, 6113, 6121, 
6322, 6323, 6324, 6325, 6329**) 
are unbound except for mail order. 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
                                               
1 “Selling and marketing of air transport services” is defined as in paragraph 6(b) of the GATS Annex on 
Air Transport Services, except that the aspects of “m arketing” covered by this commitment are limited to 
market research, advert ising and distribution. S/C/N/805  
 
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  Sector or subsector  Limitations on market access  
- Distribution: Commission agents’ services 
(CPC 62113-62118);  
Wholesale trade services (CPC 6223-6228);  
Retailing services (CPC631**, 63211**, 63212, 
61112, 6113, 6121, 6322, 6323, 6324, 6325, 
6329**) Australia’s commitments in relation to 
these services extend to cover the following services not listed in relevant 
CPC classifications: inventory management of 
goods, assembling, sorting and grading of goods, breaking bulk, re-distribution and delivery services for retailing.  Does not cover 
dispensing of pharmaceuticals;  
and, Franchising (CPC 8929). 
Excludes tobacco, tobacco products, alcoholic 
beverages, and firearms.  
Aircraft repair and maintenance services, as defined 
in the GATS Annex on Air Transport Services 
(CPC 8868**) 
This covers establishments mainly engaged in 
periodic maintenance and repair (routine and 
emergency) of airframes (including wings, doors, 
control surfaces) avionics, engines and engine 
components, hydraulics, pressurisation and 
electrical systems and landing gear. Includes 
painting, other fuselage surface treatments and 
repair of flight-deck (and other) transparencies. 
Further includes rotary and glider aircraft. 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
E. Rail transport services  
b) Freight transportation 
 (CPC 7112) 
 
c) Pushing and towing services 
 (CPC 7113) 
 
b) Supporting services for rail transport services 
 (CPC 743) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) Below track: Most rail-track 
networks in Australia are government 
owned although much is leased to 
private operators. There are no 
restrictions on the right to establish 
new networks but access to public 
land may not be guaranteed.   
      Above track (rail transport 
services (such as trains) that operate 
over the rail-track infrastructure): 
none except that access to rail 
infrastructure is allocated under pro-
competitive principles for safety, 
efficiency and the long term interests 
of users. 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
F. Road transport services  
b) Freight transportation 
 (CPC 7123) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
c) Rental of commercial vehicles with operator 
 (CPC 7124) 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. S/C/N/805  
 
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  Sector or subsector  Limitations on market access  
H. Services auxiliary to all modes of transport  
a) Cargo-handling services in relation to 
 rail, road  and air transport only 
 (CPC 741**) (Note that maritime cargo handling services are 
dealt with under “Maritime auxiliary services” 
above) 1) Unbound* 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
b) Storage and warehouse services 
 (CPC 742 excluding  maritime) 
Australia’s commitment in relation to these services 
extends to cover the following services in addition 
to those listed in CPC 742: distribution centre 
services and materials handling and equipment 
services such as container station and depot 
services (excluding maritime). 1) Unbound* 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
c) Freight transport agency services 
 (CPC 748 excluding maritime) Australia’s commitment in relation to these services 
extends to cover the following services in addition 
to those listed in CPC 748: customs agency services and load scheduling services (excluding maritime). 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
d) Other supporting and auxiliary transport 
services 
 (CPC 749 excluding maritime) 
Australia’s commitment in relation to these services 
extends to cover the following services in addition 
to those listed in CPC 749: container leasing and 
rental services (excluding maritime). 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
 Information Communication Technology, Business Process Outsourcing Services 
1. BUSINESS SERVICES  
B. Computer and related services 
 (CPC 84) excluding measures relating to 
content  covered by CPC 844 and 849  1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal section. 
 Other services categories that are of interest to least-developed countries 
1. BUSINESS  SERVICES  
A. Professional Services  
g) Urban planning and landscape architectural 
 services  
 (CPC 8674) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
E. Rental/leasing services without operators  
e) Other – leasing or rental services concerning 
 personal and household goods 
 (CPC 832) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
F. Other business services  
e) Technical testing and analysis services  
 (CPC 8676) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
i) Services incidental to manufacturing  
 (CPC 884 + 885 except for 88442) 1) None 
2) None 3) None S/C/N/805  
 
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  4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
n) Maintenance and repair of equipment   
   (not including maritime vessels, 
aircraft or other  transport equipment)  
 (CPC 633 + 8861-8866) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
q) Packaging services   (CPC 876) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal section. 
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED ELSEWHERE  
Washing, cleaning and dyeing services (CPC 9701) 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
Hairdressing and other beauty services 
(CPC 9702) 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in 
the horizontal section. 
  
 
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