SERVICES TRADE: 7 MAY 2014

Book launch: “WTO Domestic Regulation and Services Trade: Putting Principles into Practice”

On 7 May 2014, the WTO launches a new book entitled “WTO Domestic Regulation and Services Trade: Putting Principles into Practice”, co-published with Cambridge University Press.

> Order printed copy

The book explores the theoretical underpinnings for domestic regulation of trade in services, the problems that regulation is typically intended to resolve and the potential consequences for services trade.

Domestic regulation of service sectors has a significant impact on the opening of services trade.  This makes it important to consider how domestic regulation disciplines can facilitate services trade and how to distinguish protectionism from the pursuit of legitimate public policy objectives.

The book delves into the main domestic regulation principles which trade negotiators have been seeking to craft, under the mandate of the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), as a means of reducing the impact of regulatory diversity, simplifying procedures, making procedures more transparent and avoiding unnecessary complexity or disguised restrictions.

The book also includes country and sector-specific case studies, which focus on a particular regulatory experience or challenge; they discuss general approaches, mechanisms or solutions that have been applied across a range of sectors. The case studies help shed light on how some of the issues discussed in the domestic regulation disciplines have been addressed.

The editors of the book are Aik Hoe Lim, Counsellor in the Trade in Services Division of the WTO Secretariat, and Bart De Meester, member of the Legal Service of the European Commission and formerly a Legal Affairs Officer at the WTO.

 

Programme
WTO, Centre William Rappard, Room D

Moderator: Mr Hamid Mamdouh (Director of Trade in Services Division)

 

12.30-12.45

Invitation to refreshments/sandwiches

     
  12.45-12.55

Welcome and opening remarks: Deputy Director-General Xiaozhun Yi

Audio

 
 

 

 
  12.55-13.20

Presentation of the book: Mr Aik Hoe Lim and Mr Bart De Meester
> talking points

"WTO Domestic Regulation and Services Trade: Putting Principles into Practice"

Selected case studies:

  • Ms Ruosi Zhang (logistics)
  • Ms Joan Apecu (mobile banking)

Audio
> presentation

 
 
  13.20   -14.00

Panel/general discussion

  • Prof. Carlos Braga, International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne
  • H.E. Ambassador Mariam Salleh, Malaysia
  • Ms. Caroline McCarthy, Counsellor, Australia

Audio

 
 
  14.00

Closing

 
 
   

Registration is mandatory for those who do not have WTO accreditation. Should you wish to register, please send an email to [email protected]  by noon, 2 May 2014. Registered participants will need to leave their passport or ID card at the registration office before entering the building.  

Launch event sponsored by Cambridge University Press.