WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS/CSC/9
5 December 2003
(03-6450)
ANNUAL REPORT1 OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES (2003)
1. Since its update to the annual report of 2002 to the Council for Trade in Services, the
Committee on Specific Commitments held two formal meetings on 30 June 2003 and
29 September 2003.  Minutes of these meetings are contained in WTO documents S/CSC/M/29; 29Corr. 1, and 30.
2  In the reporting period, the Committee addressed four items:  classification issues;
scheduling issues;  consideration of issues relating to Article XX:2 of the GATS;  and other topics for
possible future work.
I. CLASSIFICATION ISSUES
2. The Committee continued its discussion on the classification of Legal Services based on a
communication from the European Communities (S/CSC/W/39).  The Committee also exchanged
views on possible work on Mode 4, in particular parameters of a possible Secretariat note on
categories of natural persons subject to commitments under mode 4, or a possible update of the 1998
Secretariat background note on Mode 4, S/C/W/75.  In view of the on-going work in the Special
Session of the Council for Trade in Services, it was agreed, that for the time being, the Committeewould await the discussion in the Special Session, and consider any technical work that might
emanate from these discussions thereafter.  This agreement was without prejudice to the right of any
Member to bring up any technical issue related to Mode 4 at any future meeting.
II. SCHEDULING ISSUES
3. At the request of Members, the Secretariat circulated its presentation on scheduling of
specific commitments, which it had delivered during the 2002 Scheduling Workshop (JOB(03)/186).
At the meeting of 29 September, the delegation of Brazil introduced a communication containingpreliminary questions on initial offers (JOB(03)/189).
III. CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES RELATING TO ARTICLE XX:2 OF THE GATS
4. Further to a mandate from the Council for Trade in Services (Regular Session), the
Committee held a first discussion of issues relating to paragraph 2 of Article XX of the GATS at its
meeting of 29 September 2003.  It was agreed to convene an additional, dedicated meeting to considerthis issue prior to the next regular meeting of the Committee.
IV. OTHER TOPICS FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE WORK
5. At its meeting of 30 June 2003, the Committee continued its discussion on possible items for
future work.
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1 This report, together with the update in document S/CSC/8, complete the reporting requirement for
2003.
2 Meetings of 30 June 2003 (S/CSC/M/29 and Corr 1.), and 29 September 2003 (S/CSC/M/30 – to be
issued).