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 16 November  2017 
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE  WORKING PARTY ON DOM ESTIC REGULATION  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR T RADE IN SERVICES (20 17) 
 
Since its Annual Report of 201 6 to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Working Party on 
Domestic Regulation (WPDR) held four formal meetings, respec tively on 25 November 2016; 
14 March 2017; 15,  16, 22 June and 5 July 2017; and 2 -4 October 20172, and two informal 
meetings, on 27 February and 9 May 2017 .3 During the period covered by this report, the Working 
Party continued with its work on  the develop ment of  regulat ory disciplines pursuant to GATS 
Article VI:4.  
DEVELOPMENT OF REGUL ATORY DISCIPLINES UN DER GATS ARTICLE VI: 4 
1.1.  During the formal meeting of 25 November 2016, the Working Party addressed two 
communications4 by Members: one communication by a g roup of Members provided a revised text 
proposal on "Administration of Measures"5; the other communication, by India, contained "Possible 
Elements of a Trade Facilitation in Services Agreement" .6 Under Other Business, the delegation of 
Australia proposed t o invite the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to the next 
meeting of the Working Party to update Members on its recent work on services standards , and to 
hold a Member -driven exchange of information and experience on services standards.7  
1.2.  During  the formal meeting on 14 March 2017 , the Working Party addressed three  new 
communications  by groups of co -sponsors : one on  "Transparency "8; and two others  on 
"Development of Measures"9,10. India circulated a communication concerning a "Trade Facil itation 
Agreement for Services "11, as well as a presentation on this communication .12 
                                                
1 S/WPDR/1 9, dated 25 November  2016. 
2 The reports of the formal meetings are contained in documents S/WPDR/M/ 69 - 72 and should be read 
in conjunction with this report.   
3 At the informal meeting on 9 May 2017, the de legation from Hong Kong, China, in document 
JOB/SERV/259, circulated its statement  relating to document JOB/SERV/252 /Rev.2 . 
4 In order to inform delegations about the latest version of c ommunications that were subsequently 
revised to  add co -sponsors , these  communications are referred to by their latest revision .  
5 JOB/SERV/239 /Rev. 2, dated 14 June 2017; Communication from Australia, Chile, Colombia, the 
European Union, Japan,  Kazakhstan,  Mexico, Norway, Peru, Republic of Korea, and the Separate Customs 
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu – Domestic Regulation – Administration of Measures . 
6 S/WPDR/W/5 7, dated 14 November  2016; Communication from India - Possible Elements of a Trade 
Facilitation in Services Agreement . 
7 RD/SERV/136, dated 24 Novem ber 2016; Communication from Aus tralia – Domestic Regulation – 
Technical Standards.  
8 JOB/SERV/251/Rev.2, dated 14 June 2017; Communication from Australia ; Colombia ; the European 
Union ; Hong Kong, China; Japan ; Kazakhstan ; Republic of Korea ; Mexico ; New Ze aland and the Separate 
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  - Domestic Regulation – Transparency . 
9 JOB/SERV/250/Rev.1 , dated 14 June 2017 ; Communication from Australia, Canada, Colombia, the 
European Union, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexi co, Norway and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu - Domestic Regulation - Development of Measures . 
10 JOB/SERV/252/Rev.2 , dated 13 March 2017 ; Communication from Chile;  Hong Kong, China; New 
Zealand and Switzerland - Domestic  Regulation - Development of Measures . 
11 S/WPDR/W/58 , dated 23 February 2017 ; Communication from India - Trade Facilitation Agreement 
for Services . 
12 RD/SERV/137, dated 16 March 2017;  Presentation from India – Working Party on Domestic 
Regulation  – 14 Marc h 2017.  S/WPDR/ 20 
 
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  1.3.  During the formal meeting of the Working Party on 15, 16, 22 June and 5 July 2017, 
Members addressed new communication s by groups of co -sponsors  on "Technical Standards"13, 
"Development of Measures, Gender Equality"14, and by Australia on "Development (Least 
Developed Countries)" .15 The delegation of the Dominican Republic submitted a communication 
containing  questions on India's proposal for a Trade Facilitation Agreement for Services .16 
1.4.  At the formal meeting of 2 -4 October 2017, the Working Party  addressed a communication 
on "Disciplines on Domestic Regulation"17, which brings together earlier negotiating proposals by 
proponents for domestic regulation disciplines in one documen t, as well as a communication  by 
India containing  comments and text proposals to the above -mentioned text .18 The delegation of 
India also circulated i ts opening remarks  made at the meeting.19 The Af rican Group submitted a 
communication containing "Questions on Domestic Regulation".20 
 
__________  
                                                
13 JOB/SERV/257/Rev.2 , dated 14 June 2017;  Communication from  Australia , Chile; Colombia; Hong 
Kong, China; Japan; Republic of Korea; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway and  the Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  – Technical Stan dards . 
14 JOB/SERV/258/Rev.5, dated 27 September 2017;  Communication from Albania, Argentina, Canada, 
Chile, Colombia,  the European Union,  Iceland , Liechtenstein, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, 
Pakistan, Panama and Uruguay  – Development of Mea sures, Gender Equality . 
15 JOB/SERV/261, dated 2 June 2017;  Communicatio n from Australia – Development  (Least Developed 
Countries ).  
16 JOB/SERV/263, dated 9 June 2017;  Communication from the Dominican Republic – Questions 
regarding the Communication from In dia – Trade Facilitation Agreement for Services (S/C/W/372, TN/S/W/63, 
S/WPDR/W/58) . 
17 JOB/SERV/268/Rev.3 , dated 20 October 2017; Communication from Argentina; Australia; Canada; 
Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; the European Union; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; I srael; Japan; Kazakhstan; the 
Republic of Korea; Liechtenstein; Mexico; the Republic of Moldova; New Zealand; Norway; Peru; Switzerland; 
and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Turkey  and Uruguay – Disciplines 
on Domestic Re gulation . 
18 RD/SERV/145, dated 29 September 2017; Communication from India – India's comments on 
communication JOB/SERV/268  – Disciplines on Domestic Regulation . 
19 RD/SERV/146, dated 3 October 2017; Communication from India - India's Opening Remarks on 
Communication JOB/SERV/268/Rev.1 – Disciplines on Domestic Regulation.  
20 JOB/SERV/269, dated 27 September 2017; Submission by the African Group  - Questions on Domestic 
Regulation .