S/C/44  
 
28 November 2014  
(14-6967)  Page: 1/12  
   
 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES 
TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL (2014) 
Since its Annual Report of 2013 to the General Council1, the Council for Trade in Services held five 
formal meetings, respectively on 29 October 2013, 26 February 2014, 8 May 2014, 20 June 2014 
and 17 September 2014.2 During the period covered by this report, the Council addressed the 
following matters. 
1  NOTIFICATIONS MADE TO THE COUNCIL PURSUANT TO GATS ARTICLES III:3, V:7 
AND VII:4 
1.1.  The Council for Trade in Services took no te, altogether, of the following notifications: 
(a) Notifications pursuant to Article III:3 of the GATS 
Australia S/C/N/698, 718 
Colombia S/C/N/699-700 The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, S/C/N/702 
 Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu 
South Africa S/C/N/703-708, 712, 727-730 Switzerland S/C/N/713 
Norway S/C/N/714 
Ukraine S/C/N/719 The European Union S/C/N/720-726 Togo S/C/N/731 
The Kingdom of Morocco S/C/N/732-738, 740-741 
Senegal S/C/N/746-765 
 
(b) Notifications pursuant to Article V:7 of the GATS 
Chile and Nicaragua S/C/N/697 
Mexico S/C/N/701 
Costa Rica and Singapore S/C/N/709 
New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of S/C/N/715  Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu Colombia S/C/N/681/Rev.1/Add.1 
Canada and Chile S/C/N/65/Add.1 
The European Union S/C/N/716 Mexico and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, S/C/N/717/Rev.1 
 Honduras, Nicaragua 
Singapore and the Separate Customs Territory of S/C/N/739  Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu 
Switzerland and China S/C/N/742 
The European Union and the Republic of Moldova S/C/N/743 The European Union and Ukraine S/C/N/744 The European Union and Georgia S/C/N/745 
 
                                               
1 S/C/42, dated 30 October 2013. 
2 Reports of these meetings are contained in documents S/C/M/115 to 119, and should be read in 
conjunction with this report. S/C/44 
 
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  1.2.  The agreements notified in these documents were referred to the Committee on Regional 
Trade Agreements for consideration. 
(c) Notifications pursuant to Article VII:4 of the GATS 
Montenegro S/C/N/710-711 
 
1.3.  With regard to a measure adopted by Thailand  that had been the object of a notification by 
Norway pursuant to GATS Article III:53, at the February meeting of the Council Thailand provided 
written replies4 to earlier questions Norway had raised.5 Norway and the European Union offered 
follow-up comments. The Council took  note of the statements made. 
1.4.  At that meeting, the Council also agre ed that the Secretariat would update its Note 
containing a statistical account of the notifications made under relevant GATS provisions, and that 
it would produce annual updates of that document. The updated Note was circulated to Members 
at the May meeting of the Council.6 
2  COMPLIANCE WITH GATS NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 
2.1.  As part of its deliberations of the issue of  compliance with GATS notification requirements, 
the Council considered the suggestion to create an online system for the submission of services notifications. The Secretariat was asked to prepare a Note on the feasibility of setting up such a 
system. The Note, which was circul ated at the February meeting,
7 indicates that the estimated 
cost of setting up a scheme for the online submi ssion of GATS notifications is in the order of 
CHF 100,000. It also signals that, as concerns the retrieval of information about notifications, an 
online mechanism already exists thanks to the WTO's Documents online facility. The Secretariat 
was thus asked to organize a presentation of that facility, which was delivered at the May meeting 
of the Council. In light of Members' diminishing interest, at that juncture, in pursuing further discussions on the question of compliance with GATS notification requirements, at the June 
meeting the Council decided to defer its deliberations of this agenda item. 
3  WORK PROGRAMME ON  ELECTRONIC COMMERCE 
3.1.  Discussions under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce continued throughout the 
reporting period. At the February meeting, Members unanimously welcomed the Ministerial 
Decision on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce adopted in Bali on 7 December 2013
8, 
and noted the positive work carried out under the Work Programme since the Eighth Ministerial Conference. A number of delegations put forward suggestions for future work the Council might 
usefully undertake. 
3.2.  At the May meeting, the United States indica ted that it was preparing a formal submission for 
the Work Programme. The submission would address data flows and localisation requirements, and 
their trade implications, while also considering privacy concerns, as well as cloud computing 
services and their classification. In September, the European Union also announced its intention of delivering a presentation on the new EU regulation on electronic identification and trust services 
for electronic transactions.  
3.3.  A number of other issues were mentioned in the course of the Council's deliberations as 
possible areas for further work. Several delegations stressed the importance of addressing questions relevant to Members across the development spectrum, and of keeping a balance 
between the trade and development dimensions of e-commerce in the Council's deliberations. 
3.4.  Duly noting the mandate, in the Bali Ministerial Decision, that the General Council periodically 
review progress with the Work Programme based on the reports submitted by the WTO bodies 
entrusted with its implementation, the Council agreed in June that the Chairman would produce, 
                                               
3 Document S/C/N/653, dated 26 September 2012. 
4 Document JOB/SERV/172, dated 20 January 2014. 
5 Document JOB/SERV/126, dated 28 November 2012. 
6 Document JOB(09)/10/Rev.4, dated 8 April 2014. 
7 Document JOB/SERV/174, dated 12 February 2014. 
8 Document WT/L/907, dated 11 December 2014. S/C/44 
 
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  under his own responsibility, a factual report of the essence of the Council's discussion under that 
agenda item. The report is contained in document S/C/43.9 
4  OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE LDC SERVICES WAIVER 4.1.  The Council discussed the operationalization of the LDC services waiver during the entire 
reporting period. The Ministerial Decision on the issue adopted in Bali in December 2013 
mandates, inter alia , that the Council for Trade in Services initiate a process aimed at promoting 
the expeditious and effective operationalization  of the waiver, and periodically review its 
operationalization.  
4.2.  As part of that process, the Council agreed to the suggestion by the LDC Group that the 
Secretariat prepare a Note collecting information on measures of general application notified under GATS Article III:3, measures under economic inte gration agreements notified under Article V:7, 
and measures on recognition notified under Article VII:4, limited to those taken in the professional 
services sectors by the top ten services traders. The Note was circulated in June.
10  
4.3.  A further suggestion, that the WTO Secretariat share with the Council information on the 
work done by the International Trade Centre (ITC) relating to LDC services exports, did not enjoy 
consensus. However, Australia decided to sponsor independently an ITC seminar on "LDC Services 
Exports: Business Success Stories and Challenges", which was held in May and appreciated by 
Members. 
4.4.  The Bali Decision on the operationalization  of the LDC services waiver mandates the Council 
to convene, six months after the submission of an LDC collective request identifying the sectors 
and modes of particular export interest to them, a High-Level Meeting where developed and 
developing Member, in a position to do so, would indicate the preferences they intend to grant to 
LDCs services and service suppliers. 
4.5.  Pursuant to that Decision, on 21 July the LDC Group submitted its collective request.11 At the 
Council meeting held in September, the LDC Group gave a detailed overview of its request, 
providing additional background information an d context to its various elements. All Members 
welcomed the request, as a stepping stone in th e process of the operationalization of the waiver. 
They indicated that they were still reviewing the document, and would revert to it, and stressed 
their willingness to engage in discussions with LDCs  to further clarify specific elements of the 
request and make progress towards operationalizing the waiver. A handful of delegations alluded to a potential linkage of progress on the LDC waiver with other Bali outcomes, in very general 
terms. 
4.6.  With regard to the High-Level Meeting, LDCs  stated their expectation that it would take place 
in the second half of January 2015. The Group was still reflecting on the procedural aspects 
involved, and would present to the Council its views on the organization of the event. LDCs were 
encouraged by the Chairman of the Council to sh are their ideas with the Membership as early as 
possible, so that planning for the High-Level Meeting could proceed effectively. 
5  FOLLOW-UP TO SECTORAL AND MODAL DISCUSSIONS 
5.1.  Under this agenda item, the Council addresse d, at its meetings in December and February, a 
communication circulated by Switzerland on th e issue of small and medium-sized enterprises 
(SMEs) in the services sector, titled "Service s sector, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and 
Employment: The Case of Switzerland".
12 The communication prompted a number of other 
delegations to share information about the role that services SMEs played in their own economy. 
                                               
9 Dated 30 June 2014. 
10 Document S/C/W/355, dated 17 June 2014. 
11 Document S/C/W/356 and Corrigenda 1 and 2. 
12 Document S/C/W/340/Add.1, dated 30 September 2013. S/C/44 
 
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  6  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADE IN SERVICES 
6.1.  The item was added to the Council's agenda  in December 2013, at the request of the group 
of Members, who sought to provide the Membersh ip with information about their discussions on a 
framework for negotiations on a Trade in Services Agreement (TISA). A communication to that 
effect was submitted in October 2013.13 
6.2.  Discussions under this agenda item cont inued throughout the reporting period, with TISA-
participating Members regularly updating the Council on progress with their negotiations. While 
generally appreciative of the transparency elem ent of these updates, some Members expressed 
concerns about the initiative, relating, inter alia , to its non-inclusive nature, its impact on 
multilateralism and the successful conclusions of the DDA negotiations. Furthermore, a few 
delegations questioned the relevance of this agenda item. TISA participants saw no contradiction 
between the TISA talks and the DDA negotiations. They noted that the two could be mutually 
supportive, that the TISA was developed to be co mpatible with the GATS; was intended to attract 
broad participation; and could be multilateralised in the future. TISA participants continued to 
welcome the participation of all WTO Members wh o shared their objectives, and expressed their 
readiness to meet with any Member interested in obtaining more information about their initiative.  
7  I-TIP SERVICES DATABASE – PR ESENTATION BY THE SECRETARIAT 
7.1.  At its December 2013 meeting, the Council heard a presentation on the "I-TIP Services" 
database just developed by the WTO Secretariat jointly with the World Bank. I-TIP Services, the 
services component of the WTO's Integrated Trade Intelligence Portal, aimed at making it easier 
for Members and other stakeholders to access the various types of information relevant for 
services trade policy-making, be they commitments, applied measures, or statistics. 
8  TRADE RESTRICTIVE MEASURES IN SERVICES OF CERTAIN MEMBERS 8.1.  At its May and June meetings, the Council addressed trade restrictive measures in services of 
certain Members, at the request of the Russian Federation. The Council took note of the 
statements made by the Russian Federation, the Un ited States and the European Union at the May 
meeting, and by the Russian Federation, Cuba, Ca nada, Nicaragua, Australia, the United States 
and the European Union at the June meeting. 
9  DEVELOPMENTS IN SERVICE TRADE AND REGULATION 9.1.  Under this agenda item, the European Unio n presented, at the Council meeting in June, its 
Directive on conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the context of intra-
corporate transfers. Members were appreciative of  the information provided, and sought additional 
information on certain aspects of the Directive.  
10  WORK OF THE SU BSIDIARY BODIES 
10.1.  The activities of the subsidiary bodies in 2014 are reflected in their respective reports, which 
are annexed to this report, as follows:  
 Annex I Report of the Committee on Trade in Financial Services (S/FIN/29) 
 Annex II Report of the Committee on Specific Commitments (S/CSC/20) 
 Annex III Report of the Working Party on Domestic Regulation (S/WPDR/17)  Annex IV Report of the Working Party on GATS Rules (S/WPGR/25)  
 
 
_______________ 
 
                                               
13 Document JOB/SERV/164/Rev.1, dated 22 October 2013. S/C/44 
 
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 ANNEX I 
  
S/FIN/29  
 
28 November 2014  
(14-6989)  Page: 1/2  
   
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES 
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRAD E IN SERVICES (2014) 
 
Since its previous Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Committee on 
Trade in Financial Services held five formal meetings, respectively on 28 October 2013, 
26 February 2014, 6 May 2014, 19 June 2014 and 18 September 2014.2   
 
1  ACCEPTANCE OF THE FIFT H PROTOCOL TO THE GATS 
1.1.  The Committee continued to monitor the status of acceptance of the Fifth Protocol to the 
GATS, which has yet to be accepted by Brazil.  
2  TRADE IN FINANCIAL SE RVICES AND DEVELOPMENT 
2.1.  The Committee embarked on a discussion on "f inancial inclusion". In that context, Chinese 
Taipei made a presentation on the recent amen dments to the Regulations Governing Domestic 
Branches of Financial Institutions, which were specifically introduced to improve access to financial services in the domestic market; South Africa shared information on the Southern African 
Development Community (SADC) Integrated Region al Electronic Settlement System (SIRESS), 
which had recently come into operation; and China briefly described its policy on mobile banking. In order to continue the consideration of this issue, the Committee requested the Secretariat to 
prepare a Note on Financial Inclusion and the GATS. 
2.2.  At the meeting in September 2014, and foll owing a proposal by China, the Committee agreed 
to hold a seminar on mobile banking in November 2014.    
3  REGULATORY ISSUES IN FINANCIAL SERVICES 
3.1.  The Committee continued with its consideration of regulatory issues in financial services, on 
the basis of a Secretariat Note.
3 The section on financial services is to be found in paragraphs 185 
to 195 of the document.  
3.2.  In May 2014, the Committee heard presentati ons by representatives of the Basel Committee 
on Banking Supervision (BCBS), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), and the International Organizations of Securities Commissions 
(IOSCO), who had been invited to give an overview of the most recent international regulatory 
reforms and initiatives in the financial sector, and to discuss with Members the potential implications for trade in financial services. The presentations, as well as additional material sent by 
these organizations, had been circulated prior to this meeting as room documents.  
                                               
1 S/FIN/28, dated 29 October 2013. 
2 The reports of the formal  meetings are contained in documents S/FIN/M/78 to 82, and should be read 
in conjunction with this report. 
3 S/WPDR/W/48, dated 13 June 2012. S/C/44 
 
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  3.3.  In addition, the Committee addressed a communication by South Africa describing its 
regulatory framework for non-banking financial services.4  
4  TECHNICAL ISSUES (CLASSIFICATION ISSUES) 4.1.  The Committee discussed the issue of "new fina ncial services" on the basis of a note by the 
Secretariat.
5 A summary of those discussions, where were held in informal mode, is contained in a 
note by the Chairperson.6 
 
_______________ 
  
                                               
4 JOB/SERV/179, dated 21 February 2014. 
5 JOB/SERV/187/Rev.1, dated 25 June 2014. 
6 JOB/SERV/188, dated 1 August 2014. S/C/44 
 
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 ANNEX II 
  
  
S/CSC/20  
 
17 November 2014  
(14-6737)  Page: 1/2  
   
 
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRAD E IN SERVICES (2014) 
 
Since its Annual Report of 2013 to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Committee on Specific 
Commitments (CSC) held four formal meetings, respectively on 29 October 2013, 
25 February 2014, 7 May 2014, and 18 September 2014.2 During the period covered by this 
report, the Committee addressed two items: classification issues and scheduling issues.  
1  CLASSIFICATION ISSUES  
1.1.  During the reporting period, the Committee examined classification issues relevant to 
education, health, tourism and recreational services. As in the previous two years, in order to 
facilitate exchange of view, discussions were carried out in informal mode, and an informal, non-
attributable summary of the discussion was circul ated to Members after each meeting under the 
Chairperson's responsibility. To stimulate discussi ons, for each sector under examination, the 
Secretariat prepared an informal Note providing an overview of relevant classification issues and 
suggesting specific questions for Members' consideration.3  
1.2.  Thus, the Committee concluded the sectoral ex amination of classification issues, an exercise 
that had started in late 2011 and was focused on the challenges facing the GATS classification 
system (W/120 + CPC Provisional) as a result of dramatic technological and commercial 
developments over the past two decades. Upon  the request of the Committee, the Secretariat 
compiled the 40 relevant documents produced in the exercise and was circulated to Members on 
14 March 2014.4  
1.3.  Building upon the sectoral discussion on classification issues, the Committee started to 
consider the issue of "new services" at the meeting on 18 September 2014. As a starting point, upon the request of the Committee, the Secretariat prepared an illustrative list of services 
identified in previous discussions as not being explicitly referred to in document W/120.
5 The 
Secretariat Note also provides a brief background  on the issue of "new services" and suggests a 
number of general questions for consideration. Di vergent views were expressed at the meeting on 
a number of issues such as: whether there existed "new services", whether a definition of "new 
services" was needed, and the implications of "n ew services" for existing commitments. It was 
agreed that the Chairman of the Committee would hold consultations on how to proceed with 
further discussions on the issue of "new services".  
1.4.  At the meeting on 29 October 2013, the dele gation of Brazil made a presentation regarding 
SISCOSERV, an online system developed by Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade 
                                               
1 S/CSC/19, dated 29 October 2013. 
2 The reports of the formal  meetings are contained in documents S/CSC/M/68-71, and should be read in 
conjunction with this report. 
3 The relevant Secretariat Notes are contained in documents JOB/SERV/158-160. 
4 The compilation is contained in document JOB/SERV/180. 
5 The illustrative list is contained in document JOB/SERV/189. S/C/44 
 
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  (MDIC), which kept track of services transact ions between residents and non-residents. It 
consisted of a statistical database aimed to guide po licy making and evaluation of services trade as 
well as a services classification system.  
2  SCHEDULING ISSUES 
2.1.  There was no substantive discussion under this item during the reporting period.  
 
_______________ 
 
 S/C/44 
 
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 ANNEX III 
  
  
S/WPDR/17  
 
17 November 2014  
(14-6739)  Page: 1/2  
   
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON DOMESTIC REGULATION 
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRAD E IN SERVICES (2014) 
Since its Annual Report of 2013 to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Working Party on 
Domestic Regulation (WPDR) has held four formal meetings, respectively on 28 October 2013, 25 February 2014, 7 May 2014 and 17 September 2014.
2 During the period covered by this report, 
the Working Party continued with its work on domestic regulation disciplines pursuant to GATS 
Article VI:4. Discussions were undertaken on three tracks: completion of the discussion of technical issues related to the draft disciplines based on questions from Members; examination of 
regulatory issues based on inputs from Members and the Secretariat; and the launch of the 
dedicated discussion of domestic regulation in regional trade agreements.   
1  TECHNICAL ISSUES 
1.1.  Members completed their review of the 93 technical questions contained in the "List of 
Potential Technical Issues Submitted for Discussion"
3 To facilitate any future follow-up work, the 
Chairman circulated a document compiling all the information and views exchanged by Members over the course of the work programme. Appended to the compilation were all the informal 
summaries which had been prepared according to specific themes, together with any additional 
information provided by Members on their licensin g and qualification regimes. In the discussions, 
Members sought to clarify the use of certain domestic regulation concepts and terms as they relate 
to their regulatory frameworks and practices. Cert ain Members also reflected on the implications of 
the information provided during the technical discussions for the development of horizontal domestic regulation disciplines. Upon the re quest of Members, during the course of the 
discussions, the Secretariat prepared 3 background  notes on (i) Measures of General Application 
(S/WPDR/W/47); (ii) Regulatory Issues in Se ctors and Modes of Supply (S/WPDR/W/48 and 
Add.1) ; and (iii) Technical Standards in Services (S/WPDR/W/49). With the compilation provided by the Chairman, the discussions have helped to shed further light on how certain concepts, terms 
and disciplines under consideration in the negotiations might relate to, or impact on, regulatory 
practices at the national-level.   
2  REGULATORY ISSUES IN SECTORS AND MODES OF SUPPLY 
2.1.  In 2014, Members also completed their di scussions on regulatory issues with background 
information provided by the Secretariat Note "Regulatory Issues in Sectors and Modes of Supply" (S/WPDR/W/48 and Add.1). Members also specifical ly addressed the subject of development, and 
the Secretariat was requested to prepare a supple mentary Note on "Services-related regulatory 
challenges faced by developing countries" (S/WPDR/W/51). In the discussions, Members 
exchanged views on their national experiences with regulatory reform and capacity building as well 
                                               
1 S/WPDR/16, dated 29 October 2013. 
2 The reports of the form al meetings are contained in document s S/WPDR/M/59-62 and should be read 
in conjunction with this report. 
3 RD/SERV/68. S/C/44 
 
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  as the specific challenges faced by developing  countries. Overviews of national regulatory 
frameworks for specific sectors were also provid ed by a number of Members. While the discussion 
was not intended to reach any particular conclusions, it was generally noted by Members to have been a useful exercise which had helped to shed further light on regulatory issues affecting 
services sectors as well as modes of supply.  
3  DEDICATED DISCUSSION ON DOMESTIC REGULATION IN REGIONAL TRADE 
AGREEMENTS 
3.1.  A dedicated discussion on Members' experi ences with domestic regulation disciplines in 
services regional trade agreements was conducte d in 2014. The purpose of the discussion was to 
give Members the opportunity to share details on the different types of domestic regulation provisions that can be found in regional trade agreements (RTAs), as well as to draw any 
commonalities or differences with the disciplines negotiated under the GATS Article VI:4 mandate. 
Some Members also shared views on their experi ences with negotiating and implementing such 
disciplines. While still on-going, information has been presented on a wide range of RTAs. This 
information indicate that domestic regulation provisions in RTAs have generally been based upon 
existing GATS obligations, as well as the negotiating mandate contained in Article VI:4. In a number of cases, certain modifications and additional  obligations have also been included at either 
the horizontal or sectoral-level. Since the dedica ted discussion was not concluded in 2014, it would 
be expected to continue in 2015.  
 
_______________ 
 
 S/C/44 
 
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 ANNEX IV 
  
  
S/WPGR/25  
 
17 November 2014  
(14-6738)  Page: 1/2  
   
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON GATS RULES  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRAD E IN SERVICES (2014) 
 
Since its Annual Report of 2013 to the Council for Trade in Services1, the Working Party on GATS 
Rules (WPGR) held four formal meetings, respectively on 29 October 2013, 25 February, 7 May 
and 18 September 2014.2 During the period covered by this report, the Working Party continued to 
engage in discussions on all three GATS Rules to pics. Progress, however, was limited due notably 
to the overall context of the DDA negotiations.  
 
1  NEGOTIATIONS ON EMERGENCY SA FEGUARD MEASURES (ARTICLE X) 
1.1.  In 2014, the Working Party commenced a dedicated discussion on emergency safeguard 
provisions in regional trade agreements (RTA s) – as proposed by the 'Friends of ESM'3 in their 
October 2013 Communication entitled "Emergency Safeguard Measures (ESM) in Regional and Bilateral Trade Agreements: A Proposed Dedicated Discussion".
4 The proponents presented the 
ESM provisions contained in several RTAs involving them either individually or collectively, 
explaining the political economy reasons for adopting these provisions. So far, none of the 
proponents has ever invoked a safeguard measure in services. A Note from the Chairperson5 
summarizes the views expressed in the February 2014 dedicated discussion. Furthermore, at the 
request of the Members, the Secretariat prepared an updated factual Note providing a consolidated 
list of safeguard–type and safeguard–related prov isions for trade in services in some 122 RTAs 
notified to the WTO under GATS Article V:7.6  At the September 2014 meeting, several delegations 
made preliminary comments on the Note. The ESM proponents informed delegations that the Lao 
People's Democratic Republic, which acceded to the WTO in February 2013 and was a signatory to ASEAN's FTAs, had joined the 'Friends of ESM'. 
2  NEGOTIATIONS ON GOVERNMENT  PROCUREMENT (ARTICLE XIII) 
2.1.  As previously agreed by Members, the Working Party discussed a preliminary version of the 
WTO Staff Working Paper entitled "The Relationship between Services Trade and Government Procurement Commitments: Insights from Relevant  WTO Agreements and Recent RTAs" prepared, 
in their personal capacity, by staff members from the Secretariat's TRIPS Division in charge of the 
GPA and the Trade in Services Division.
7 The Paper analyses commitments' coverage with respect 
                                               
1 S/WPGR/24, dated 29 October 2013.  
2 The reports of these meetings are contained in documents S/WPGR/M/82 to 85, and should be read in 
conjunction with this report.  
3 The following delegations,  as proponents on emergency safeguards in services, constitute the 'Friends 
of ESM": Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. 
4 JOB/SERV/163, Communication from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, 
Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, dated 18 October 2013.  
5 JOB/SERV/186, dated 5 May 2014. 
6 S/WPGR/W/64, dated 4 September 2014. 
7 The views expressed in the Paper are the authors' personal responsibility and should not be attributed 
to the WTO or its Secretariat. S/C/44 
 
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  to procurement of services, including approaches  to scheduling, both in the GPA and the GATS, 
and in the 68 regional trade agreements identified as covering services procurement. Following two rounds of discussion in the Working Party, in October 2013 and February 2014, in the course of which delegations provided many useful suggestions for improvement, a more in-depth 
discussion of the final version of the Staff Work ing Paper is expected to take place in 2015. 
3  NEGOTIATIONS ON SUBSIDIES (ARTICLE XV) 3.1.  Upon request from the Working Party, the Secretariat issued a revised version of its 
Background Note entitled "Subsidies for Services Sectors ‒ Information contained in WTO Trade 
Policy Reviews".
8 The difference with previous versions is  that Addendum 7 structures the updated 
empirical evidence on subsidy programmes (based on information contained in WTO Trade Policy Review reports by the Secretariat) according to individual service sectors. Several delegations 
welcomed the updated Background Note; others underlined that it did not identify any trade 
distortions related to the subsidies described. More conceptual work would be needed to better understand how subsidies are provided and what trade effects they might have.  
 
__________  
 
 
   
                                               
8 Document S/WPGR/W/25/Add.7, dated 17 April 2014.