SERVICES: COMMITMENTS

Schedules of specific commitments and lists of Article II exemptions

During the Uruguay Round of negotiations (1986-1994), participating countries undertook specific commitments on market access and national treatment, which are contained in their original services schedules. Some participating countries also drew up a list of MFN exemptions.

After the Uruguay Round, extended negotiations took place under the GATS on the movement of natural persons (concluded in 1995), telecommunications (concluded in 1997),financial services (concluded in 1997), and maritime transport services (suspended in 1996). Commitments undertaken in these extended negotiations supplement or replace the original commitments.

While not all WTO members participated in the extended negotiations, the outcomes of these negotiations are applied on an MFN basis.

Each new member- also has a schedule of specific commitments. Most new members maintain a list of Article II (MFN) exemptions.

 

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All commitments and exemptions

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  • All commitments (Document code GATS/SC/*)
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  • All exemptions (Document code GATS/EL/*)
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Technical clarifications

How to read a schedule

SERVICES DATABASES 

I-TIP-Services Portal
A set of linked databases that provides information on Members' commitments under the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), services commitments in regional trade agreements (RTA), applied measures in services, and services statistics.