PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS ON INITIAL OFFERS

Communication from Brazil


The following communication, dated 18 March 2004, from the delegation of Brazil is being circulated to the Members of the Committee on Specific Commitments.

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Taking into account (i) the decision of the Committee on Specific Commitments on its meeting, held on 30 June 2003, of keeping an item on scheduling issues on the agenda of the Committee, under which Members may raise matters related to the scheduling of commitments, and (ii) paragraph 16 of the Guidelines and Procedures for the Negotiations on Trade in Services (S/L/93), Brazil would like to present the following questions on some of the initial offers presented during the current round of services negotiations:

I. QUESTIONS TO SWITZERLAND (TN/S/O/CHE)
Question No. 1:
Page 6. Horizontal commitments. Market access on mode 4.

Taking into account that — according to S/L/92 — “[...] footnotes [...] are a record of legal commitments”, Brazil would like Switzerland to explain how the addition of footnote in the above mentioned page could improve market access in mode 4. Does it refer to a new measure? In the light of the provisions of the Annex on Mode 4, Brazil would like to know why Switzerland has inscribed it.

Question No. 2:
Page 11. Auditing services. National treatment on modes 1 and 3.

Switzerland replaced the term “person supplying auditing services to” for “auditor of”. Brazil would like further information on Switzerland’s understanding of the expression. Which categories of professionals are covered by each classification? Which are the inadequacies of the previous inscription?