Services Negotiations - Update on Plurilateral Process
The WTO Services negotiations in early 2006 moved into a new phase with the launch of the plurilateral (or collective) sectoral request process agreed by Ministers at the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005. These collective negotiations differ from the traditional ‘request-offer’ approach, which is conducted on a ‘one-to-one’ or bilateral basis.
After submission of over 20 plurilateral requests in late February 2006, WTO Members met four times (March, May 2006 and April, September 2007) in Geneva to discuss the requests and the prospect of further liberalisation by the conclusion of the Doha Round.
The latest round of plurilateral (collective) services negotiations commenced in Geneva on 18 September and continues until 27 September. An Australian delegation participated in some 20 sessions on sectors/modes of supply. Australia is a co-sponsor of 12 sectoral requests; air transport (Australia coordinates), architecture/engineering/integrated engineering, computer and related services, construction, education, energy, environmental, financial, logistics, legal (Australia coordinates), maritime transport and telecommunications services. We are a recipient of plurilateral requests in eight sectors, most notably audio-visual and Mode 4. While there continues to be limited progress in the Round, these sessions have provided an opportunity for Members to clarify objectives and flexibilities, and to explore/signal scope of possible improvements in services offers.
The full list of requests in which Australia was involved is as follows:
Co-Sponsor
- Air transport services
- Architectural and engineering services
- Computer and related services
- Construction services
- Education services
- Energy services
- Environmental services
- Financial services
- Legal services
- Logistics services
- Maritime transport services
- Most Favoured Nation (MFN)
Exemptions (General)
- Telecommunications services
Recipient
- Audiovisual services
- MFN Exemptions (Audiovisual)
- Mode 1/2 (Cross-border services )
- Mode 3 (Commercial Presence)
- Mode 4 (Temporary Movement of Service Suppliers)
- Postal/Courier services
- Services related to Agriculture
- Tourism
Further detail on the requests sponsored by Australia
See also Australia’s existing offer, tabled in May 2005 (Word).