WORLD TRADE S/L/19
30April 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1746)
Trade inServices
DECISION ONCOMMITMENTS INBASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Adopted bytheCouncil forTrade inServices on30April 1996
TheCouncil forTrade inServices ,
Having regard totheAnnex onNegotiations onBasic Telecommunications,
Having regard tothefinalReport oftheNegotiating Group onBasic Telecommunications on
thenegotiationsconductedunderthetermsoftheDecisiononNegotiationsonBasicTelecommunications
adopted atMarrakesh on15April 1994,
Decides asfollows:
1. Toadopt thetextofthe"Fourth Protocol totheGeneral Agreement onTrade inServices"
(hereinafter referred toastheProtocol) andtotakenoteoftheSchedules ofCommitments andLists
ofExemptions from Article IIlisted intheAttachment tothefinalReport oftheNegotiating Group
onBasic Telecommunications.
2. Commencing immediately andcontinuing untilthedateofentry intoforce oftheProtocol
Members concerned shall, tothefullest extent consistent withtheirexisting legislation andregulations,
nottakemeasures which would beinconsistent withtheirundertakings resulting fromthesenegotiations.
3. During theperiod from 15January to15February 1997, aMember which hasaSchedule
ofCommitments annexed totheProtocol, maysupplement ormodify suchSchedule oritsListof
Article IIExemptions. AnysuchMember which hasnotannexed totheProtocol aListofArticle II
Exemptions maysubmit suchalistduring thesame period.
4. AGrouponbasictelecommunicationsreportingtotheCouncilforTradeinServicesshallconduct
consultations ontheimplementation ofparagraph 3above commencing itswork nolaterthan90days
from theadoption oftheDecision.
5. TheCouncil forTrade inServices shallmonitor theacceptance oftheProtocol byMembers
concerned andshall, attherequest ofaMember, examine anyconcerns raised regarding theapplication
ofparagraph 2above.
6. Members oftheWorld Trade Organization which havenotannexed totheProtocol Schedules
ofCommitments orLists ofExemptions from Article IImaysubmit, forapproval bytheCouncil,
Schedules ofCommitments andListsofExemptions fromArticle IIrelating tobasictelecommunications
prior to1January 1998.