Wenn über den erneuten Ausbau der Europäischen Gemeinschaft diskutiert wird, so häufig auch über eine Frage, die schon bei der Gründung und bei der ersten Erweiterungsrunde (1973) angesprochen wurde: Wie wird sich die Liberalisierung des Güter- und Faktoraustausches auf die...

In September 1986, a ministerial conference staged in Punta del Este, Uruguay, gave the starting signal for a new GATT round. This round will be a test of the adaptability and reformability of the multilateral trading system. The following article examines the issues involved and the ensuing...

The use of non-tariff barriers to trade, which began to be important in the 1970s, has continued to increase throughout the 1980s. Notwithstanding the difficulties and limitations it faces, the Uruguay Round probably presents the only present opportunity of coming to grips with many existing...

In discussions about the need for, and possible role of, a multilateral framework for investment, existing obligations under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) are seldom acknowledged. However, some two-thirds of the world's FDI stock are in services and, thus, potentially subject...

WTO talks on investment facilitation, launched at the 11th Ministerial Conference in 2017, have garnered significant traction, with negotiations currently involving over 100 Members. Looking ahead, a key challenge will be securing an open plurilateral agreement that bridges definitional and...

In addition to cross-border supply, the Agreement covers three additional types of transactions, i.e. the supply of services via consumer movements abroad as well as the presence of foreign firms and foreign service professionals in the respective markets. At the same time, the GATS accommodates...

The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is far broader in policy coverage than conventional trade agreements for goods. At the same time, governments are offered more flexibility to tailor their obligations to sector- or country-specific needs. As a result, commitments vary widely...