Post Date : 96-06-06
Following the resumption of the WTO Doha Round negotiations earlier this year, progress has been seen in the WTO Services negotiations. Positive signals of further liberalization commitments in certain services sectors were given by WTO members during the intensive two-week negotiations on Services, held in Geneva in late April, where “request and offer” negotiations took place.

The focus of the two-week Services “cluster” meetings was on plurilateral negotiations, where proponents for liberalization of services sectors such as telecommunication services, computer services, maritime services and other sectors outlined what new commitments they expected from recipient Members, which they regard as key markets.

During the plurilateral negotiation meetings, the recipient Members responded to the requests of the proponent Members, and informed them of the prospects on the possibility to further improve and commit their domestic services markets to foreign competition, in accordance with the request. It was in these plurilateral negotiations that a number of recipient Members indicated their flexibility on commitments in some services sectors.

Taiwan was also actively engaged in the Services cluster meetings, and participated a total of 17 plurilateral negotiations, including, among others, financial services, maritime services, telecommunication services, computer services, distribution services and logistic services. Taiwan has also co-sponsored 13 plurilateral requests, and is ready to further commit in some services sectors, so as to show our commitment to a successful conclusion of the Doha round negotiations. As an actively engaged member of the WTO, Taiwan would like to maintain this kind of momentum in the Services negotiations, and also looks forward to seeing further liberalization, in services sectors of interest to Taiwan, from other Members.