RESTRICTED  
  
TN/S/M/48  
 
16 April 2018  
(18-2298) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Services  
Special Session    
 
 
REPORT OF THE MEETIN G HELD ON 9 APRIL  2018 
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
The Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services held a formal meeting on 9 April 2018 . The 
agenda, contained in document WTO/AIR/ TN/S/4 , was adopted.  
1  ITEM A: E LECTION OF THE NEW CHAIRPERSON  
1.1.  The outgoing Chair person  recalled that , as announced at the meeting of the General Council 
of 7 March 2018 , consensus had been reached among the membership to nominate Ambassador 
Zhanar Aitzhanova of Kazakhstan as the new Chairperson of the Spe cial Session of the Council for 
Trade in Services.  The Special Session elected  Ambassador Aitzhanova by acclamation.  The 
Chairperson  thanked delegations for their cooperation  during his tenure , noting in particular the 
pragmatism and reasonableness exhibit ed in the lead -up to the Ministerial Conference in Buenos 
Aires.   
1.2.  The new Chairperson  thanked Members for their trust.  She looked forward to working with all 
delegations in order to help facilitate negotiations  in a transparent and fair manner.  On behalf o f 
all delegations, s he expressed appreciation to Ambassador Cima for the energy and skill with 
which he had carried out his duties as Chair.   
2  ITEM B: EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON FUTURE WORK  
2.1.  The Chairperson  wished to hear  views of delegations on future work to be  carried out in the 
Special Session.  In introducing the discussion, she noted that, fr om her p ersonal experience, she 
had come to appreciate that services, despite the apparent complexity compared to trade in 
goods, were fundamental for economic developmen t. For most economies, services were the most 
important sector for domestic production and employment , and t rade in services, in value added 
terms, represent ed about half of world trade.  However , except for acceding Members, services 
commitments in the WTO  were more than 20 years old.  This contrast ed with the weight of services 
in all economies and the dynamism of the sector from both a business standpoint as well as in 
terms of government policies.   
2.2.  She recalled that the Chair of MC11 had concluded that Me mbers wished to advance 
negotiations on all issues, including services.  Through Article XIX of the GATS, services ha d a clear 
built-in mandate, along with built -in flexibilities, that allow ed Members to discuss, build support, 
make proposals, and advance i n relevant sectors, modes, or rules o f interest, as regards 
Articles  XVI, XVII, or XVIII . With respect to the state of most recent discussions in the Special 
Session, she drew attention to the report of her predecessor to the T rade Negotiations Committee 
last November, which had been circulated as TN/S/41.  In 2017, t he Special Session had examine d 
two proposals, mostly in the first half of the year.  Those proposals, from India and the European 
Union, were not further pursued in the lead -up to MC11.  On Dome stic Regulation, the Working 
Party on Domestic Regulation ha d not met since MC11.  Informal discussions had recently t aken 
place among interested delegations in light of the joint Ministe rial Statement in Buenos Aires.  
                                                
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.  
 
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  2.3.  Regarding future work, she observed th at delegations m ight wish to continue discussion of 
past proposals, or have interest in new proposals, whether sector -specific or cross -cutting in 
nature.  She welcome d views in that regard.  On the other hand, however, a text -based proposal 
was not always t he only way, or necessarily the best way, to initiate discussions on negotiating 
areas of interest.  Relevant background work and exchanges of views among delegations c ould 
constitute  a good basis to build on and facilitate  negotiations.     
2.4.  Much ha d changed  in many services sectors over the last years: market developments, 
government policies, and ways of accessing markets.  Did such developments carry implications for 
Members' current interests, approaches or priorities in different sectors and modes  of supp ly? The 
Chairperson encouraged delegations to consider meaningful exchanges and work that could allow 
the membership to gain a better understanding of what were key issues and of what might be 
possible and desirable, and what might not.  
2.5.  The Chairperson suggested that the discussions take place in informal mode, and the 
meeting proceeded accordingly.  
3  ITEM C: OTHER BUSINESS  
3.1.  Since there was no other business, the meeting was adjourned . 
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