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Canada Joins Negotiations for Agreement on
International Trade in Services
by: Brenda C. Swick
Canada has joined 20 other World Trade Organization
(WTO) members, including the European Union, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, Turkey and the United States, in
negotiations toward a plurilateral agreement on
international trade in services. Participants are
expected to begin formal talks within the next two
months. Examples of affected services sectors include
information and communication technology services,
transportation, financial services, professional
services, environmental services and energy services.
The Canadian government has stated that it hopes that a
new international agreement on services will lead to new
opportunities for Canadian companies and boost Canada's
financial, engineering, energy, mining and environmental
services sectors.
Canadian companies have until April 30, 2013 to
provide the federal government with their views on
service sectors which ought to be liberalized.
Submissions should include the following:
- The identification of services sectors, activities
and markets in foreign countries for Canadian service
providers and measures in those markets that restrict
or otherwise adversely affect market access for
Canadian service providers.
- Any barriers or experiences regarding the
different modes of supply of services as defined in
the WTO:
- Identification of barriers to the temporary
entry and stay of business persons faced by Canadian
service providers in WTO member markets, such as
impediments to entering or working in a country on a
temporary basis, including licensing, certification,
work permits and other work authorization
requirements.
- Identification of investment barriers faced by
Canadian service providers in foreign countries,
including restrictions imposed on foreign ownership
or entry to market, questions of transparency of
regulation, performance requirements (e.g., local
content requirements, use of local labour and
services), and any other impediments or barriers.
- Experiences regarding barriers to the
cross-border trade in services faced by Canadian
service providers in foreign markets, such as
licensing or residency requirements.
- Other barriers (e.g., availability and
transparency of information) when selling or
attempting to sell services to
governments of foreign countries.
Companies are encouraged to explain the impediments
encountered when attempting to sell services to
foreign governments including at sub-federal
levels.
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