. /.  RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  S/WPGR/M/61 
18 June 2008 
 (08-2877) 
Working Party on GATS Rules  
  
 
REPORT OF THE MEETING OF 3 JUNE 2008 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
  
1. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Shaista Sohail from Pakistan.  The agenda for the meeting, 
contained in WTO/AIR/3195, was adopted
.  The Chairperson  noted that as in previous meetings the 
discussions on emergency safeguard measures, govern ment procurement and subsidies would be in 
informal mode.  Any Member, should it so wish, migh t request that their intervention be recorded in 
the minutes of the meeting.  She also noted that in accordance with the rul es of procedure the new 
chairperson would be appointed at the end of the meeting.  
I. NEGOTIATIONS ON EMERGENCY SAFEGUARD MEASURES (ARTICLE X) 
2. The Chairperson  recalled that the delegations of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, 
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam have circulated a revision of their 
proposed rules regarding the use of an emergenc y safeguard mechanism (ESM) in services.  The 
revision is contained in JOB(07)/155.  She asked the delegations concerned for guidance on how they 
might wish to follow-up on discussions.  
3. The representative of the Philippines , on behalf of the co-sponsors of JOB(07)/155, noted that 
while they would be making a statement in in formal mode, they would welcome any formal 
statements by delegations.   
4. Discussions continued in informal mode.  
5. The Chairperson  invited the Working Party to take note  of comments made.   
II. NEGOTIATIONS ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT (ARTICLE XIII) 
6. The Chairperson  invited further comments in relation to  the latest proposal from the European 
Communities, contained in S/WPGR/W/54, concerning the text of an annex to the GATS on government procurement in services.   
7. The representative of the EC
 reiterated the continued importan ce that his delegation attached 
to the proposal on government procurement, especially  in light of the high proportion of services that 
are procured by governments, and the benefits that  it believed could be obtained from commitments in 
this area.  
8. Discussions continued in informal mode.   
9. The Chairperson  invited the Working Party to take note  of comments made.   
                                                      
1  This document has been prepared  under the Secretariat's own responsibility and without prejudice to 
the positions of Members and to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  S/WPGR/M/61 
Page 2  
 
  III. NEGOTIATIONS ON SUBSIDIES (ARTICLE XV) 
10. The Chairperson
 recalled that the delegations of Hong Kong, China and Mexico have 
submitted their preliminary views in response to the questions listed in paragr aph 6 of JOB(07)/27 on 
non-actionable subsidies.  She noted that these were introduced at the last meeting and are contained 
in the room document of 28 November 2007.    
11. The delegation of Hong Kong, China  recalled previous work in the Working Party to improve 
information exchange on subsidies, including by the Secretariat, and noted that while it had no further 
work to share at this stage, it remained inter ested in hearing the views of other Members.   
12. Discussions continued in informal mode.   
13. The Chairperson  invited the Working Party to take note  of comments made.   
IV. DATE OF NEXT MEETING 
14. The Chairperson  suggested that the next formal meeting be held during the next cluster of 
services meetings, subject to the usual consultations.    
V. OTHER BUSINESS 
15. No items were raised under this agenda item.   
VI. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSON 
16. The Committee elected Ms. Jan Bailey, from New Zealand, as its new Chairperson by 
acclamation.  Members noted their deep appreciati on for the considerable efforts by the outgoing 
Chairperson, Ms. Shaista Sohail, to engage Me mbers and to further discussion on the three GATS 
Rules areas of emergency safeguard measures, government procurement and subsidies.    
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