WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/W/312
14 September 1999
(99-3803)
General Council Original:  Spanish
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 1999 MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Proposals Regarding Trade in Services
Communication from Colombia
The following communication, dated 7 September 1999, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of Colombia.
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Background
Article XIX of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) provides that "Members
shall enter into successive rounds of negotiations, beginning not later than five years from the date of
entry into force of the WTO Agreement and periodically thereafter, with a view to achieving a
progressively higher level of liberalization".
Proposals
1. In the negotiating process, the principle set out in GATS Article XIX.2 must be respected,
namely that "there shall be appropriate flexibility for individual developing-country Members for
opening fewer sectors, liberalizing fewer types of transactions, progressively extending market access
in line with their development situation … ".
2. Continue the negotiations concerning national regulations, emergency safeguard measures,
subsidies and government procurement relating to services.
3. Review the exemptions to most-favoured-nation treatment granted for a period of more than
five years in accordance with the Annex on GATS Article II Exemptions.
4. Negotiate liberalization on the basis of the current contents of the Schedules of specific
commitments.
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