It's Your Turn
Consulting Canadians
Trade in Services
2006
Consultations on
the Development of WTO GATS Disciplines on Domestic Regulation
Closing date: December 15, 2006
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) Article VI:4
mandates the development of any necessary disciplines to ensure
that measures relating to qualification requirements, qualification
procedures, licensing requirements, licensing procedures, and technical
standards do not become unnecessary barriers to trade.
Based on proposals tabled by Members and discussions that have
taken place at the GATS Working Party on Domestic Regulation (WPDR),
the Chair of the WPDR issued in July 2006 a working paper entitled
Disciplines on Domestic Regulation Pursuant to GATS Article
VI:4 - Consolidated Working Paper. This is not a negotiating
text but a paper reflecting what he perceived to be areas of convergence,
areas where alternative approaches exist, and areas where differences
still remain. The paper is intended to facilitate domestic consultations
and further WPDR discussions.
To facilitate our domestic consultations, we have developed a guide
that builds upon the Chair's working paper. The guide and working
paper have been circulated to Canadian regulators, service providers
and other services trade stakeholders in order to obtain their views on various elements of the proposed disciplines. Attached is the overview
section of the guide (html | pdf).
To those interested in making comments, please contact the Department
for a copy of the full guide.
All interested parties are invited to submit their comments by
15 December 2006. Contributions can be sent by
e-mail, fax or mail to:
Email: consultations@international.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 944-7981
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Consultations & Liaison Division (CSL)
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
2005
Market Access Priorities Report (CIMAP)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (International
Trade) releases annually the government's report on Canada's trade
priorities: Opening Doors to the
World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities (CIMAP).
The report also highlights significant market opening results achieved
by government to benefit Canadian exporters.
DFAIT (IT) wants to know about major market access irritants Canadian
business people may be facing in foreign markets. By informing us
of these problems, the Government will ensure that Canada's negotiating
objectives fully reflect the interests of Canadians. Please provide
us with your comments by filling out the Trade and Investment Barrier
Feedback form.
2004
Consultations on Services Trade
Negotiations
Online Questionnaire for Canadian Businesses
Services trade negotiations, especially for the General
Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), are at a stage where
more detailed information is necessary to advance Canada's interests.
Canada will continue to pursue the objectives it laid out at the
outset of negotiations. However, as trade negotiations progress,
we need to decide where to concentrate our efforts.
Please take a few moments to fill in the on line questionnaire
for your business sector. Your input will be used to help us refine
Canada's negotiating strategy.
While it is not necessary, we suggest you read the brief background
document detailing the input we have received in past consultations
on Canadian export interests and the trade barriers faced by Canadian
service providers.
Sectoral
Services Consultations on Trade in Services
Final Report
on 2004 Regional Consultations--Refining Canada's Services Trade
Negotiating Strategy
Throughout March and April 2004, trade officials conducted consultations
with Canadian services exporters on immediate and prospective markets
of interest. As services trade negotiations progress, especially
the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), this input will
be valuable in ensuring Canada's interests and priorities are addressed.
Additional comments may be submitted to: gats@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Market Access
Priorities Report (CIMAP)
International Trade Canada (ITCan) releases annually the government's
report on Canada's trade priorities: Opening
Doors to the World: Canada's International Market Access Priorities
(CIMAP). The report also highlights significant market
opening results achieved by government to benefit Canadian exporters.
ITCan wants to know about major market access irritants Canadian
business people may be facing in foreign markets. By hearing from
you, the Government will ensure that Canada's negotiating objectives
fully reflect the interests of Canadians. Please provide us with
your comments by filling out this feedback
form.
The Government of Canada is seeking the views
of Canadians on the implications for Canadian trade in services
of the enlargement of the European Union (EU)
Closing date: September 15, 2004
Services trade negotiators are currently considering how EU enlargement
will affect our trade interests under the General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS). We are seeking to identify Canadian services
and investment interests in Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia,
Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic,
Slovenia, Sweden (enlargement countries of 1995 & 2004). Understanding
the activities of Canadians and Canadian businesses who trade and
invest in these markets is essential to representing Canadian interests.
If you believe that Canada’s services trade may be adversely
affected by a change of GATS commitments of the countries listed
above, we would encourage you to contact International Trade Canada.
For information about this consultation, please see the Canada
Gazette Notice of August 7, 2004.
Submissions must be received no later than September 15, 2004.
Contact information:
Address:
Fax: 613-944-0058
Services Trade Policy Division (EBS)
International Trade Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
2001
Consultations on Trade in Services Negotiations
Pettigrew Releases Public Consultation Report on GATS
News
Release - February 7, 2001
The report provides a general summary
of the comments that were made during joint federal and provincial/territorial
cross-country consultations held between June and October 2000.
The information collected has been used to help establish Canada's
initial position for the GATS negotiations.
WTO Services Negotiations - Virtual Consultations with Services Exporters - June 2000 to May 2001
The government of Canada has completed its GATS "virtual" consultation
process with services exporters across Canada. This process consisted
of a series of 12 short e-mailed surveys asking for input on a range
of services trade issues - temporary entry, MRAs, establishing a
local office, government procurement, e-commerce, etc. Government
officials have received some very valuable input from Canadian service
firms that will assist them develop the Canadian position as we
proceed in the GATS negotiations. You may continue to send comments
to the following mailbox: gats@dfait-maeci.gc.ca.
We also invite you to view results of the completed
mini-surveys.
Back to "It's Your Turn" Main Menu
|