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S/WPDR/W/ 59 
 
6 November  2017 
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Working Party o n Domestic Regulation    
 
 
 
 
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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 mee tings, respectively 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 . During the period covered by this report, the Working 
Party continued with its work on  the development 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 
communications3 by Members: one communic ation by a group of Members provided a revised text 
proposal on "Administration of Measures"4, the other communication, by India, contained "Possible 
Elements of a Trade Facilitation in Services Agreement"5. Under Other Business, the delegation of 
Australi a proposed to 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 service s standards.6  
1.2.  During  the formal meeting on 14 March 2017 , the Working Party addressed four new 
communications  by groups of co -sponsors , on "Transparency "7; two communications on 
                                                
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 th is report.   
3 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 .  
4 JOB/SERV/239 /Rev. 2, dated 14 June 2017; Communicati on 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 . 
5 S/WPDR/W/5 7, dated 14 November  2016; Communication from India - Possible Elements of a Trade 
Facilitation in Services Agreement . 
6 RD/SERV/136, dated 24 November 2016; Communication from Aus tralia – Domestic Regulation – 
Technical Standards.  
7 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 Zealand and the Separate 
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu  - Domestic Regulation – Transparenc y. S/WPDR/W/ 59 
 
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  "Development of Measures"8;9; and a communication from India concerning  a "Trade Facilitation 
Agreement for Services "10.  
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"11, 
"Development of Measures, Gender Equalit y"12, and by Australia on "Development (Least 
Developed Countries)"13.  
1.4.  At the formal meeting of 2 -4 October 2017, the Working Party  addressed a communication 
on "Disciplines on Domestic Regulation"14, which brings together earlier negotiating proposals by 
proponents for domestic regulation disciplines in one document, as well as a communication15 by 
India containing  comments and text proposals to the above mentioned text.  The delegation of 
India also circulated i ts opening remarks  made at the meeting.16 The Af rican Group submitted a 
communication containing "Questions on Domestic Regulation".17 
 
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8 JOB/SERV/250/Rev.1 , dated 14 June 2017 ; Communication from Australia, Canada, Colombia, the 
European Union, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Norway and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu - Domestic Regulation - Develo pment of Measures and JOB/SERV/252/Rev.2 , dated 
13 March 2017 ; Communication from Chile, Hong Kong, China; New Zealand and Switzerland - Domestic 
Regulation - Development of Measures . 
9 See footnote 5 . 
10 S/WPDR/W/58 , dated 23 February 2017 , Communication f rom India - Trade Facilitation Agreement 
for Services . 
11 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 Standards . 
12 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 Measures, Gender Equality . 
13 JOB/SERV/261, dated 2 June 2017;  Communication from Australia – Development – Least developed 
countries.   
14 JOB/SERV/268/Rev.3 , dated 20 October 2017; Communication from Argentina; Au stralia; Canada; 
Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; the European Union; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; 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 Regulation . 
15 RD/SERV/145, dated 29 September 2017; Communication from India – India's comments on 
communication JOB/SERV/268  – Disciplines on Domestic Regulation . 
16 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.  
17 JOB/SERV/269, dated 27 September 2017; Submission by the African Group  - Questions on Domest ic 
Regulation .