The services text is not problematic. The Director General is examining WTO internal transparency, and moving toward realistic, steady, steps in building confidence among WTO members. He plans a trade and WTO administrative package for developing countries. The Director General is focussing on areas that have common ground while addressing issues such as agriculture, labor, and implementation where delegations have very rigid positions. David Hartridge, Director, Trade in Services Division, WTO, noted that services work in the Council on Trade in Services is directed to the negotiating process.
Negotiations can take place in bilateral, plurilateral, or multilateral formats among members.
He sees CTS milestones as the establishment of negotiating structures, selection of working party and committee chairs, guidelines, and request offer discussions. There is a coordinated effort in the CTS of technical assistance to developing countries to prepare them for negotiations. The subsidiary bodies are driven by WTO Members. The GATS Rules work includes an examination of safeguards, subsides, and government procurement. Safeguard discussions will take into account precepts of GATT safeguard measures.