Yet, while all signatories committed themselves in theory to the GATS principles of national treatment, market access, and MFN, each country made different commitments for different service sectors during the Uruguay Round. In these negotiations, some countries improved on their Uruguay Round commitments. In financial services, the U.S. committed to protect the existing operations of foreign suppliers in the U.S. market, but did not guarantee MFN to foreign firms who wish to establish new businesses, expand existing ones, or undertake new activities. For movement of natural persons, several countries made improvements to their schedules from the Uruguay Round. The U.S. did not consider it necessary to change its commitments in this area.
Negotiations are still underway in basic telecommunications and maritime.
Countries may improve on their Uruguay Round commitments in these two sectors. The GATS also calls for another comprehensive round of negotiations in services by the year 2000 and anticipates another round of negotiations on financial services in 1997. Some countries may have supplemental schedules for financial services and movement of natural persons based on the outcome of negotiations just completed. Supplemental schedules could also be filed once the telecom and maritime negotiations are concluded. When determining the commercial significance of a country's commitments under the GATS, then, all original Uruguay Round schedules, supplemental schedules, and MFN exemptions lists must be reviewed to get the most accurate picture of what a country has and has not agreed to guarantee foreign service suppliers.