WTO | Services - CBT - Role and Responsibilities of Member Governments - Ministries and Agencies Involved

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GATS TRAINING MODULE: CHAPTER 5

Role and Responsibilities of Member Governments

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5.1 Ministries and Agencies Involved

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Introduction

Basic Purpose and Concepts

Main Building Blocks: Agreement, Annexes, and Schedules

A Closer Look at Domestic Regulation

How the GATS is Administered

Role and Responsibilities of Member Governments

The Challenges Ahead

Preparing Requests and Offers

Misconceptions about the GATS

The GATS is a relatively new agreement. National administrations thus have less experience in dealing with GATS-related issues than with “traditional” trade problems under the GATT, and they do not normally have a central structure for coordinating their services-related policies. A wide range of ministries and agencies at various government levels may be involved.

Actually, regulation of services often occurs at sub-federal levels (state/province/parish and municipal) or, in some instances (e.g., professional licensing) has been delegated to private sector organisations. A related challenge is the fact that there are some 160 service subsectors involved, which would be difficult to oversee for any central agency. In order to ensure compliance with existing obligations, and to participate effectively in the new round, national administrations may find it useful to create sector — or issue-related working groups. Box E suggests how such groups might be composed.

Box E: Possible Composition of the Government Working Groups

Government Working Group	Government Working Group Composition
Government Working Group	Responsible Government Ministries/Agencies	Other Potentially Relevant Bodies
Business services	Industry and Commerce Agriculture Fisheries Forestry Mining Justice	Real Estate Board Professional Licensing Registrar National Research Council
Communication services	Communications Industry and Commerce Culture and Education	Telecom Regulator Postal Service Provider National Film Board National News Service
Construction and related engineering services	Public Works Industry and Commerce	Housing Authority Planning & Zoning Authority
Distribution services	Industry and Commerce Customs Authority	Planning & Zoning Authority
Educational services	Culture and Education Industry and Commerce
Environmental services	Environment Industry and Commerce	Waste Disposal Authority Recycling Authority
Financial services	Finance Central Bank Insurance/Banking Registrar Securities Regulator Pension Fund Regulator
Health-related and social services	Health Social Welfare Women & Families	Natural Disaster Agency Infectious Disease Authority Vocational Rehabilitation
Recreational, cultural and sporting services	Culture and Education Sports Parks Authority	National Museum National Library National Arts Council National Film Agency
Tourism and travel-related services	Tourism Parks Authority	Planning and Zoning Authority
Tourism and travel-related services	Transportation Vehicle Licensing	Port Authority Airport Authority Rail operators
Transport services	Transportation Vehicle Licensing	Port Authority Airport Authority Rail operators
Other services	Utilities Regulator	Public utilities (water, gas, electricity)
Cross-Sector: Modes of Supply & E-Trade	Immigration Authority Investment Authority Export Development Authority Company Registry Land Title Registry Industry and Commerce
Cross-Sector: Standards & Professional Credentials	Standards Agency Employment Standards Worker’s Compensation Board Licensing & Work Permits Ministry of Trade	Professional services associations
Cross-Sector: Co-ordination among Levels of Government	Industry and Commerce
Cross-Sector: Economic and Labour Force Development	Human Resource Development Human Rights Commission Micro-Enterprises Taxation Authority Planning & Zoning Authority Ministry of Labour

Adapted from OECD, 2002.

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