Plurilateral services negotiations set to start on Mar 27, 2006
23 Mar '06
7 min read
India participated in plurilateral requests on computer and related services, as well as those on mode 4 and cross-border services supplied through modes 1 and 2.
Notably, Malaysia joined in 2 sectoral requests -- for education and for computer-related services -- prompting some analysts to wonder whether the country is moving away from its traditionally cautious approach to the services negotiations, at least in selected sectors.
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay co-sponsored a plurilateral request on services related to agriculture. It is one of the few sectoral requests which did not arise out of previous 'Friends' Group' work.
Some observers have also been quick to point out that this is the only plurilateral request so far where the requesting Members are all developing countries and the requested Members all developed, including the US, the EU, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland
15 developing countries back request on mode 4
Not unexpectedly, the plurilateral request on mode 4 attracted the greatest number of developing country participants, although the request on modes 1 and 2 was also backed bv developing country Members.
Among the targeted countries for the mode 4 request are the US, the EU, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Sponsors included Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Egypt, Morocco, and Thailand,
The mode 4 collective requestfocuses on the categories of contractual service suppliers and independent professionals.
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