Services become important Services will also be on the post-Seattle agenda. It is also controversial. And the issue was not resolved until some time after the main Uruguay Round agreements had been signed. Many developing countries were reluctant to give the much easier access in these sectors that the rich countries wanted. And it is a hugely important area.
Services account for sixty per cent of global economic output, and that proportion is sure to grow.
But only a fifth of world trade is in services. Certainly some services can't be traded easily - haircuts and restaurant meals, for example. But many can. Recently services trade has been growing slightly faster than goods trade. That process would get a real boost from a new trade liberalisation agreement.