ACTIVITIES :: International Relations :: Global Issues :: WTO
WTO/GATS
The WTO/GATS negotiations on telecommunications services
In 2008, Commissioner Mandelson said: "In the end we tripped up over the level
of a trigger for a single trade restraint measure, a rather small gap in
figures, in which an irresistible force met an immovable object in the
negotiating room, and I'm afraid the talks eventually broke down after all this
time", when the Doha Round stalled.
Following the G20 Summit in November 2010 in Seoul, South Korea, and the Davos Ministerials in March 2011, there seems to be a new momentum to conclude the Doha Round talks in 2011. With Commissioner De Gucht and DG TRADE in the lead, DG INFSO is now engaged in providing inputs to the negotiations on the Services Chapter/Telecommunications.
The WTO/GATS negotiations on telecommunications services are part of the comprehensive Doha Development Agenda (DDA) which includes both further market opening and additional rule making, underpinned by commitments to strengthen substantial assistance to build capacity in developing countries. The main objective of the New Round is to assist the integration of developing countries into the world trade system in a way that will help them combat poverty.
Our overall objectives in DDA negotiations for telecommunications services are (i) to obtain improved market access to third country markets; (ii) to ensure a broader participation of developing countries to the “agreement on basic telecommunications services” concluded in 1997; (iii) to promote the next regulatory framework with our trading partners, including its technology neutral approach to regulating all electronic communications services, and (iv) to reach a common definition or classification of telecommunications services.
Information Technology Agreement (ITA)
At the same time, DG INFSO's Digital Agenda for Europe includes an action on updating the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) by the end of 2011. This Agreement dates back to 1997 and concerns IT products benefitting from zero tariffs in 70 countries around the world, representing some 97% of world trade in information technology products.
The specific telecommunications annex of the GATS is also an important background text in this context
See also further information about the Doha Development Agenda and facts and figures of the Doha Round agenda
Last update: 10/06/2011