the waiver which will last initially for years from the date of adoption releases wto members from their legal obligation to provide nondiscriminatory treatment to all trading partners general agreement on trade in services gats article ii when granting trade preferences to ldcs it effectively operates as a new ldcspecific enabling clause for trade in services as such the waiver is meant to promote ldcs service trade in sectors and modes of supply that are of particular export interest to them more favourable treatment with respect to other measures such as those relating to national treatment domestic regulations defined in article vi and other obligations under the gats requires prior approval by the wto council on trade in services wto