Global Services Network Alert
October 26, 2004

WTO: World Trade Expected to Grow 8.5% in 2004. Despite the sharp rise in oil prices, the volume of world trade is likely to grow by 8.5% in real terms by the end of 2004, a significant improvement over 2003, according to the WTO’s latest International Trade Statistics report. The WTO’s data show that global exports of commercial services grew by 13% in 2003 to $1.8 trillion, which is a slight upward revision to data released by the WTO in April of this year. For more information, click here: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres04_e/pr386_e.htm. The entire report, with more comprehensive data, will be made available on the WTO website and in hard copy in November.

Business for Development: Challenges and Options for Government and Business after the Adoption of the WTO “July package.” Manila, Philippines, October 21-22, 2004. This conference, organized by the Geneva-based International Trade Centre, in cooperation with the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry and the ITC World Tr@de Net Philippines Network, focused on expectations after the WTO “July package,” and included business and government representatives from across Asia. The conference included a session on the WTO services negotiations and their importance for Asian countries. Sessions were also held on trade facilitation, the role of bilateral and regional trade agreements in Asia, the agriculture and non-ag market access negotiations, and other topics. The program, papers presented, list of participants, and other background is available on the ITC website at http://www.intracen.org/worldtradenet/docs/whatsnew/b4d_2004/business4development.htm.

Council for Trade in Services Special Session: Report by the Chairman to the TNC. In an October 12, 2004 meeting of the WTO Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC), the Chair of the Council for Trade in Services Special Session, Ambassador Alejandro Jara, submitted a report (TN/S/17) in which he said that he saw some momentum on services, noting that 48 initial offers have now been tabled. However, some 50 Members still have not made initial services offers, and Jara expressed concern that this could threaten the May 2005 deadline to make revised offers. The TNC meeting was the first since the “July Package” was adopted. The report is available at http://docsonline.wto.org/DDFDocuments/t/tn/s/17.doc.

Managing the movement of People: what can be learned for Mode 4 of the GATS? Highlights from Joint IOM/World Bank/WTO Seminar, Geneva, October 4-5, 2004. This seminar focused on the relationship between migration and the supply of services via the temporary movement across borders of natural persons, or “Mode 4.” The presentations explore what can be learned from the experience of governments in managing the movement of people for Mode 4 of the GATS, dealing with issues that are of interest to both trade and migration authorities. Papers and presentations from the seminar can be downloaded from the WTO website at: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/sem_oct04_e/sem_oct04_e.htm.

Dr. Supachai: “We Are Back On Track And Moving Forward.” In an address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on October 4, 2004, WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi said that the July Decision on the Doha negotiations has “shown the scale of the potential gains and has provided a roadmap to their realization.” He underlined the important role of parliamentarians in the WTO. Dr. Supachai’s speech is available at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/spsp_e/spsp31_e.htm.

"Insourcing Jobs: Making the Global Economy Work for America," by Professor Matthew J. Slaughter, Tuck School of Business, October 2004. Written in response to the controversy over outsourcing, this report notes the important economic role that "insourcing" plays in the US economy. The report notes that insourcing companies employ nearly 5% of the total US private sector workforce, with annual compensation 31% above the private sector average. In addition, insourcing companies account for 14% of US private sector research and development - $27.5 billion - and contribute significantly to US exports and capital investment. The report is available at http://www.ofii.org/insourcing/insourcing_study.pdf.