Global Services Network Alert
April 14, 2005

Apellate Body Issues Report on Gambling Dispute
Supachai Calls for Substantial Doha Progress Before Summer Break
Administration Requests Fast Track Extension
USTR Issues Annual Trade Barriers Report
Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services Report to the TNC
Energy Services Week Presentation
World Trade Institute Summer Courses

Appellate Body Issues Report on Gambling Dispute

On April 7, 2005, the WTO Appellate Body issued its report on the complaint of Antigua and Barbuda against " United States - Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services." (WT/DS285/AB/R). For the findings and conclusions, click here:

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/285abr_conc_e.pdf. For the full Appellate Body report, click here: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/285abr_e.doc.

Supachai Calls for Substantial Doha Progress Before Summer Break

In a speech on April 4, 2005, WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi said that "There is an immense amount of progress to be made in a very short time if we are to achieve our objectives for Hong Kong. In order to ensure that Hong Kong is a success we will have to achieve substantial progress before the summer break, that is, before the end of July." He underlined the need "to translate the positive input of Ministers and Senior officials into give-and-take in the detailed negotiations here in Geneva." The speech is available at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/spsp_e/spsp36_e.htm

Administration Requests Fast Track Extension

On March 30, 2005, the Bush Administration formally asked Congress to extend Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Under TPA, trade agreements can be approved or rejected by the Congress, but are not subject to amendment. TPA currently applies to trade agreements signed before July 1, 2005. The Administration's request will extend that deadline to July 1, 2007 unless either House of Congress disapproves it before July 1, 2005. The request is available at: http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/March/Administration_Requests_Extension_of_Trade_Promotion_Authority.html. A report that reviews the agreements the Administration has already negotiated under TPA is available at: http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2005/2005_TPA_Report/asset_upload_file834_7514.pdf.

USTR Issues Annual Trade Barriers Report

On March 31, 2005, the Office of the US Trade Representative issued its annual report describing trade barriers in markets around the world. The report covers 61 countries and groups of nations, with particularly extensive coverage of China. For a copy of the report, click here: http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2005/2005_NTE_Report/Section_Index.html.

Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services Report to the TNC

The report of the February meetings of the WTO Council for Trade in Services in Special Session was recently made available on the WTO website (TN/S/19). According to the report, the total number of initial services offers now stands at 50, with some 42 WTO members (not including least-developed countries) having yet to submit an offer. The report acknowledges WTO members' deepening concern that the services negotiations may be heading toward a crisis, and says that "It is of paramount importance that Ministers be made aware of the acute seriousness of the situation faced in the services negotiations and the remedies needed." For a copy of the report, click here: http://docsonline.wto.org:80/DDFDocuments/t/tn/s/19.doc.

Energy Services Week Presentation

In a presentation given on behalf of the Energy Services Coalition during "Energy Services Week" last month in Geneva, energy specialist Peter Evans discussed the importance of energy sector efficiency, as it is a fundamental input to national economies. The presentation, entitled "Complementary Measures: Domestic Energy Sector Reform and Multilateral Trade Commitments" also discusses the role of domestic reforms in developing countries, as well as the necessity of the WTO/GATS framework in global energy reform. For a copy of the presentation, please contact Peter Evans at evansp@mit.edu.

World Trade Institute Summer Courses

The World Trade Institute (WTI) is running a summer program on International Trade and WTO law this coming July and August. This program offers students and graduates alike an excellent opportunity to gain in-depth, up-to-date and first-rate instruction from some of the world's leading academics and practitioners in the field of international trade. The Summer Program brochure is available at: http://www.wti.org/edu/documents/FinalSummerBrochure.pdf, and more information is available at http://www.wti.org or by contacting Simon Lacey at simon.lacey@wti.