./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/S/3
9 August 2002
(02-4369)
Council for Trade in Services
Special Session
STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN SERVICES TO THE
TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE
25 July 2002
1. Since my last report in June 2002, the Council for Trade in Services in Special Session held
one formal meeting, on 23 July 2002.
2. Under the item on the assessment of trade in se rvices, the Council held a substantive and
focused discussions, particularly stimulated by a new submission tabled by Thailand and en earlier
communication submitted by several developing country Members.  A number of common themes
emerged from the discussion.  Services liberalization was generally considered to be beneficial, but itwas stressed that it had to be progressive and that the context and timing with which it was carried out
were of crucial relevance.  Further studies on the assessment, such as the one carried out by Thailand,
were called for.  The Council also welcomed South Africa’s announcement that they would be
making a contribution to the assessment discussion in October.
3. With respect to modalities for the treatment of autonomous liberalisation, I reported on the
informal open-ended meeting held on 8 and 9 July to address the draft modalities.  The discussion at
the meeting had focused on the main substantive and outstanding issues identified in document
JOB(02)/75.  There are still a few areas of divergence amongst Members, and a change in position is
definitely required if the objective is to agree on these modalities sooner rather than later and, if
possible, at the next cluster of services meetings to be held in October.  Consultations on this issue
will continue;  in light of these consultations, a nd provided additional elements of flexibility are
shown by delegations, I will submit a new draft under my responsibility in due course.
4. Under the item on modalities for the special treatment for least-developed country Members,
least-developed countries provided additional clarifications on the proposal they had submitted in
JOB(02)/30.  These revealed that, while they could be flexible with regard to the content of the
modalities, these had to be established as soon as possible, and at the latest before 31 March 2002.  It
was decided that, in order to accelerate the process, the Chairman would hold open-endedconsultations.  The Secretariat was tasked with producing a checklist of the issues raised to help
structure the debate.
5. As for the discussion of negotiating proposals,  a new submission was tabled by the European
Communities on computer and related services, which generated substantial debate.  The delegation
of Cuba provided clarifications to questions raised on the proposals they had previously submitted.The delegation of Chile presented recommendations on increasing transparency with regard to
subsidy programmes in services.  There was widespread support for the idea, but some procedural
doubts were also expressed.  The Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting.
6. As for the organization of future work, Members decided that the October cluster of services
meetings will continue to be scheduled over a period of two-weeks.  The Special Session will meet atthe beginning of the second week, to dispense with its regular items.  It will thereafter be suspended,TN/S/3
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to allow time for bilateral consultations, and it will be resumed at the end of the week to address a
new agenda item on “Review of Progress in Negotiations amongst Participants”.  This item will allow
delegations to exchange views and concerns about the outcome of their bilateral meetings.  In order to
facilitate the participation of capital-based experts in bilateral consultations, it was decided that
delegations would communicate to the Secretariat when they intended to bring given sectoral expertsto Geneva.  The Secretariat, functioning as a clearing-house, will compile the information and indicate
those sectors for which most experts would be present in Geneva.
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