Global Services Network Alert
February 25, 2005

New Chairman, Council for Trade in Services
Joint Statement on Financial Services Liberalization
Joint Statement on Liberalization of Logistics Services
USTR Issues Annual Trade Barriers Report
Trade in Services to the Aviation Industry: A Case for Commitments under the GATES
Classification in the Telecom Sector under the WTO-GATS Framework

New Chairman, Council for Trade in Services

The WTO recently announced the slate of new chairpersons for WTO bodies. Amb. Amina Chawahir Mohamed of Kenya will be the new Chairperson of the WTO General Council, and Ms. Claudia Uribe of Colombia will assume chairmanship of the Council for Trade in Services. For the full slate of new chairs, please click here: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres05_e/pr396_e.htm

Joint Statement on Financial Services Liberalization

On February 17, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the European Communities, Japan, Norway, Oman Panama, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the US issued a joint statement on the liberalization of financial services. The statement explains the importance of a competitive financial services sector in economic development, and cites a number of studies that illustrate the positive relationship between economic growth and stability and an efficient financial sector, including foreign participation. The statement further outlines benchmarks that should be considered in the scheduling of GATS commitments.

Joint Statement on Liberalization of Logistics Services

Communication from 20 WTO members on the benefits of liberalization in the logistics services sector, February 18, 2005 . Document is available by clicking here: http://docsonline.wto.org/GEN_viewerwindow.asp?D:/DDFDOCUMENTS/T/TN/S/W34.DOC.HTM

Trade in Services to the Aviation Industry: A Case for Commitments under the GATS

February 15, 2005 . Communication from Australia , Chile , the European Communities, New Zealand , Norway and Switzerland . Document is available by clicking here: http://docsonline.wto.org:80/DDFDocuments/t/tn/s/w29.doc

Classification in the Telecom Sector under the WTO-GATS Framework

Communication from the European Communities, February 10 2005 . Document is available by clicking here: http://docsonline.wto.org:80/DDFDocuments/t/S/CSC/W44.doc%20