« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » Séminaire sur les commerce des services Organisé par IsDB Casablanca, 15 – 18 juin 2009 “STATE OF PLAY OF THE WTO NEGOTIATIONS" Pascal Kerneis - Managing Director ESF (European Services Forum)

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » DDA Launched in Nov in Doha Qatar Initial requests (EU= 109 in 2002, 103 Revised R. in 2005) Failure of Cancun Ministerial in 2003 Hong Kong WTO Ministerial Declaration in Dec  Call for more revised offers  Allow “plurilateral approach” in Annex C Missed deadlines – a) Revised Offers = 31 July 2006 – b) Draft Final Offers = 31 October 2006  69 Initial offers and 29 Improved Offers (as of today June 2009) State of play of the GATS Negotiations (1)

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » But Suspension of the negotiations on 24 July 2006 Soft revival of the negotiations in Geneva on 16 November Continuation of the work in Geneva among the “Friends of Services”, notably through the “22 Collective Requests in the Plurilateral Process, involving +/- 30 countries (EU=1) Formal « Full Fledge » negotiations on 27 January 2007 after WEF Chairmen’s Texts proposals on Ag, NAMA, & Services: 02/2008 State of play of the GATS Negotiations (2)

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » WTO Mini-Ministerial meeting in July 2008 in Geneva Signalling Conference on Services with encouraging progress. 31 countries participated (EU=1), including 7 IDB Members (Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey) but Failure because of US-India on SSM,… 80% done, but Never went up to the end. Nov 08: US Elections, 04/09: New USTR Ron Kirk, US Trade Policy Review, … 05/09: Indian Elections, New Trade Minister Anand Sharma (Reformist?) G20, OECD, G8, WTO “Normal Ministerial” in Nov-Dec 09 - DDA Conclusion? State of play of the GATS Negotiations (3)

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » PARTICIPATION OF IDB MEMBERS TO THE GATS NEGOTIATIONS 1.Bahrain(GCC) 2.Brunei(ASEAN) 3.Egypt(EuroMed) 4.Indonesia (ASEAN) 5.Jordan ( EuroMed) 6.Gabon(EPA – West) 7.Malaysia(ASEAN) 8.Morocco (EuroMed) 9.Pakistan 10.Qatar(GCC) 11.Senegal(EPA West) 12.Tunisia(EuroMed) 13.Turkey(EU Acc.) 14.UAE(GCC) A.GATS Initial Offers : 13 countries (out of 56) B.GATS Revised Offers : 4 countries 1.Bahrain3. Malaysia 2.Egypt2. Turkey

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » Participation of ACP countries in DDA GATS negotiations 14 ACP countries have tabled an initial offer = Barbados; Dominica; Gabon; Grenada; Guyana; Fiji, Jamaica; Kenya; Mauritius; St. Chris & Nevis; St. Lucia; St Vincent & Grenadine; Senegal; Trinidad & Tobago 4 African Countries; 9 Caribbean Countries; 1 Pacific Region; 2 ESA Region; 0 SADC (1: S.A.)

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » Why Europe needs successful Services Negotiations?  To improve our access to foreign markets, so that Europe can maintain its economic development, largely based on the service economy and its capacity to export (+60% of European workers in private services sectors, 20% of them work for the export).  To improve market access within the EU to foreign service suppliers so that the services sectors continue to create jobs in Europe and keep their competitive advantage (+10% of the European employees in private services sectors are working for a foreign controlled company, thanks to the openness of our economy).  Between 2000 and 2004, the last year for which aggregate figures are available, over 8m jobs were created in services in Europe, while 2,8 m were lost in industry and agriculture

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » Preliminary Assessment of non EU Initial Offers: AssessmentCountriesIssues positive (+) or negative (-) AcceptableJapan, Korea, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein Mode 4 (+), Business services (+), Tourism (+), Telecoms (+), Legal services (+), Courier services (+) AverageNew Zealand, Hong-Kong, Panama Mode 4 (+), Business services (+), engineering (+), Postal (+) Financial services (-), DisappointingUS, Australia, Canada, India, Brasil Mode 4 (-), Telecoms (-), Transports (-), Financial services (-), IT(+), Legal services (+)

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » Facts and ESF Preliminary AssessmentCountries A No Initial Offer in the DDA 82 countries, i.e. 54% of WTO Membership !!! B Do Not Know about Financial services - Restricted Initial (or Revised) Offers (25) Albania, Barbados, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gabon, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Macao - China, Macedonia, Nicaragua, Qatar, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Senegal, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Suriname C No Commitments in Initial or Revised Offer (10) Bolivia, Colombia, Israel, Peru, Philippines, Costa-Rica, Fiji, Grenada, St Kit & Nevis, D Weak or Disappointing Offers (21 countries, incl. 15 Revised Offers) Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Egypt, Honk Kong - China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay E Insufficient Offers (6) Australia, Guatemala, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, USA F Decent & Acceptable Offers (8) Argentina, Bahrain, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Morocco, Norway, Panama ESF Assessment of Financial Services offers

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » CONCLUSION  The GATS negotiations are very slow,  But they remain the priority of the EU Services Business community.  The offers on the table are very bad,  But, we have collected some signals that many can be substantially improved.  Binding of the current practice is a must to help to go out of the crisis,  But it will not be sufficient to ensure the conclusion of the round.

« The voice of the European Service Industries for International Trade Negotiations in Services » THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Pascal KERNEIS Managing Director European Services Forum – ESF 168, Avenue de Cortenbergh B – 1000 – BRUSSELS Tel: Fax: Website :