Press Release: European Commission proposes to open plurilateral trade negotiations on services

The European Commission on 15 February 2013 asked the Council to give its green light for negotiations on a new international agreement on trade in services. To begin with, 21 World Trade Organisation (WTO) Members will be at the negotiating table, but the EU is keen to encourage others to join. The EU is also pushing for the agreement to dovetail with WTO rules so it can be later folded into the WTO system.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said: "The perspective of a new broad-based trade in services agreement is excellent news - for jobs and for economic growth. I encourage all WTO members who support market opening and strong rules for trade in services to join this initiative."

The negotiations will cover all services sectors, including information and communication technology (ICT) services, logistics and transport, financial services and services for businesses. But the EU, like the other participants, is looking for the negotiations to go beyond simply further opening up markets for services. The aim is also to develop new rules on trade in services, such as those applying to government procurement of services, licensing procedures or access to communication networks.

European Commission: MEMO/13/107: Negotiations for a Plurilateral Agreement on Trade in services http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-107_en.htm

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