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The SADC Trade in Services Agenda – Overview and State of Play

The SADC Trade in Services Agenda – Overview and State of Play. SADC Workshop on Trade in Services The Hyatt, 12-13 June 2012 mjelitto@sadc.int. Services Sector in SADC Economies (% of GDP, 2007). Source: WDI, World Bank; Eurostat. GATS Commitments of SADC Members.

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The SADC Trade in Services Agenda – Overview and State of Play

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  1. The SADC Trade in Services Agenda – Overview and State of Play SADC Workshop on Trade in Services The Hyatt, 12-13 June 2012 mjelitto@sadc.int

  2. Services Sector in SADC Economies (% of GDP, 2007) Source: WDI, World Bank; Eurostat

  3. GATS Commitments of SADC Members

  4. Liberalization of Trade in Services in SADC • Work on Trade in Services started in 2000 with the development of a framework agreement • The “Protocol on Trade in Services” was adopted by Ministers of Trade in July 2009 • Approval by Council, and Signature to follow after consideration by Ministers of Justice • Several other SADC Protocols address issues related to trade in Services • Finance and Investment (M3) • Draft Protocol on Movement of Persons (M4) • Sector-specific Protocols (e.g. covering transport, Communications, finance etc.)

  5. SADC Trade in Services Protocol • Substantive disciplines of Protocol modeled upon the GATS (MA, NT, Transparency, Domestic Regulation, etc.) • Negotiations on six priority sectors (communication, construction, energy-related, finance, tourism, transport) commenced in April 2012

  6. SADC - First Round of negotiations 1. Objective for first round of negotiations: • Each Member State will provide better treatment to SADC MS in each priority sector than is provided in their GATS schedule • No new restrictions to be introduced during the negotiations (“standstill”) • Plus: GATS Article V • Substantial sectoral coverage (~ 6 sectors) • And elimination of substantially all discrimination (~better than GATS commitments sufficient(?))

  7. Timelines for first round of Negotiations First phase: requests and offers Sector focus in the first phase: Communication Services Financial Services Transport Services Tourism Services Beginning of Negotiations Requests in at least 2 sectors Requests in at least 2 sectors Offers in at least 2 sectors Offers in at least 2 sectors end November 2012 end March 2013 end June 2013 end August 2012 April 2012

  8. Timelines for first round of negotiations (ctd) -> Energy-related and Construction Services Requests: end August 2013 Offers: End November 2013 Additional Elements: • Sector Studies (market analysis in all MS) • Sector Fora (bringing regional stakeholders together) • Transport ~ September 2012 • Communication ~ October 2012

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