WTO Members Advance Work on
Professional Qualifications, LDC Services Trade and Digital Payments
At a series of meetings held from 2 to 4
June, the WTO Council for Trade in Services and its subsidiary bodies discussed
a broad range of issues for possible future work, ranging from the services aspects
of electronic commerce to the green services economy. Members also agreed to hold
a dedicated workshop to share information on the recognition of foreign professionals'
qualifications. Discussions continued on ways to help least developed countries
better participate in services trade, facilitate remittance transfers, and improve
the classification of environmental services.
Key Highlights
·
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held discussions from
2–4 June 2026 on ways to strengthen global services trade.
·
Topics covered included:
o Recognition of professional qualifications.
o Digital trade and electronic commerce.
o Green services.
o Participation of Least Developed Countries
(LDCs).
o Cross-border remittances.
o Environmental services classification.
·
The Council for Trade in Services elected Audrey Goosen as its new
Chair.
Recognition of Professional Qualifications
·
Bangladesh, India, the Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal and Pakistan submitted a proposal
to improve transparency regarding recognition of foreign professional qualifications
under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
·
Members agreed to organize a dedicated workshop later in 2026 to:
o Review notifications under GATS Article
VII.
o Exchange experiences on qualification recognition.
o Improve transparency without creating new
obligations.
Future Priorities for Services Trade
Members highlighted the importance of:
·
Green and sustainable services.
·
Digital trade and e-commerce.
·
Professional mobility and qualifications recognition.
·
Delivering outcomes that address the needs of LDCs.
·
Several members emphasized that services are increasingly becoming the “engine
of digital trade.”
Supporting LDC Participation in Services
Trade
·
Members continued work on understanding:
o LDC services exports.
o How LDC service providers engage with global
consumers and businesses.
·
Countries offering preferences under the LDC Services Waiver shared
updates on implementation.
Challenges Faced by LDC Service Providers
The LDC Group identified key barriers, including:
·
Regulatory compliance costs.
·
Market access restrictions.
·
Visa and mobility challenges.
Trade Concerns Discussed
Members reviewed concerns related to:
·
Cybersecurity measures in China and Vietnam.
·
Certain services-related measures of the United States.
·
India's measures affecting mobile applications.
·
Proposed legislation under development in the European Union.
Financial Services and Remittances
·
The Committee on Trade in Financial Services discussed:
o Cross-border digital payments.
o Lowering remittance costs.
o Financial inclusion.
·
Members continued discussions on a draft ministerial declaration on reducing
remittance costs, proposed by Morocco and the African Group, with support
from India and Pakistan.
Support for Women-Led MSMEs
·
WTO working groups on MSMEs and Trade & Gender presented initiatives
to improve access to finance for women-led businesses involved in international
trade.
·
Members welcomed the development of a database and compendium of financial
inclusion initiatives for women entrepreneurs.
Environmental Services Classification
·
Discussions continued on improving the classification of environmental services.
·
Proposals were advanced by:
o Switzerland
o New Zealand
o United Kingdom
·
Members agreed to continue consultations to improve clarity and facilitate
trade in environmental services.
Significance
The discussions demonstrate growing WTO
efforts to modernize services trade rules and address emerging issues such as digital
commerce, green services, professional mobility, remittances, and financial inclusion.
These initiatives aim to make global services trade more efficient, inclusive, and
beneficial for developing and least-developed economies.
[ABS News Service/09.06.2026]
The Council for Trade in Services
elected its new Chair, Ambassador Audrey Goosen of the Netherlands.
Following discussions at previous
meetings spurred by a proposal to strengthen the implementation of Article VII of
the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) on the recognition of professional
qualifications, a new paper submitted by Bangladesh, India, the Kyrgyz Republic,
Nepal and Pakistan focused on notifications and data tools.
The proponents suggested that
the Council hold a dedicated workshop for members to take stock of notifications
made under Article VII and other information sources on recognition measures, and
to share their experiences in this regard. The proponents emphasized that the objective
of the exercise is to enhance transparency without creating any new obligations
for members. The Council agreed to organize the workshop later this year.
Many members reiterated the importance
of services trade and reaffirmed their commitment to reinvigorating the Council's
work through enhanced deliberations on issues they considered key, in line with
the guidance provided by the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13).
Members acknowledged the value
of last year's thematic sessions and suggested possible topics for future discussions,
including green services and the recognition of professional qualifications. Members
also expressed strong interest in discussing the services aspects of electronic
commerce, emphasizing that services are "the engine of digital trade".
In addition, some members underlined the importance of delivering outcomes on services
that address the specific needs of least-developed countries (LDCs).
Members continued to provide
updates on their ongoing efforts to gather information, including through a questionnaire,
on LDCs' services exports and the ways in which LDC service suppliers interact with
consumers and businesses in other economies. Updates were provided in particular
by those that have notified preferences in favour of LDC services and service suppliers
under the LDC Services Waiver.
Members highlighted that engagement
with relevant stakeholders had shown that consumers of LDC services are primarily
driven by considerations related to skills, cost efficiency and service quality
rather than by the availability of preferential treatment under the Waiver. Several
members highlighted some of the practical tools and programmes they have in place
to help LDC service suppliers build capacity and participate more effectively in
international trade.
The LDC Group also shared some
of the challenges their service suppliers had identified, such as regulatory compliance
burdens, market access restrictions, visa-related barriers and a lack of awareness
of the Waiver. They urged members to continue sharing information and findings so
that members could start considering next steps at the next Council meeting.
The Council also reviewed several
specific trade concerns raised by members, related to cybersecurity measures implemented
by China and Viet Nam, certain services-related measures of the United States, India's
measures affecting mobile applications, and two new acts currently under development
in the European Union.
On 3 June, the Committee on Trade
in Financial Services (CTFS) continued its discussions on facilitating cross-border
digital payments and reducing the cost of remittance services. Members also heard
about an initiative aimed at improving access to finance for women-led businesses
through information sharing. Mr Will Nixon of Australia, Chair of the Committee,
facilitated the discussion.
Members discussed how to build
on the draft Ministerial Declaration on "Reducing the Cost of Cross-Border
Remittances - A Lever for Sustainable Development" (WT/Min(26)/W/3/Rev.1),
considered by ministers at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March in Cameroon.
Members did not reach a decision on the proposal, tabled by Morocco and the African
Group and co-sponsored by India and Pakistan, at MC14 due to time constraints. However,
the Chair of the Ministerial Conference requested continued discussions in Geneva.
Co-sponsors reiterated the importance
of reducing the cost of remittances, in particular for developing economies, and
expressed readiness to continue engaging with members to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Members also heard from the coordinator
of the WTO Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)
and the co-chair of the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender. They briefed
members on the initiative on improving access to finance for women-led MSMEs involved
in international trade, drawing attention to a Compendium of Financial Inclusion
Initiatives and the related database accessible via the WTO website: Compendium
of Financial Inclusion Initiatives for Women Entrepreneurs. They emphasized that
the work is ongoing and encouraged more members to contribute information.
Members welcomed the tool developed
by the two working groups as a good example of practical, member-driven deliverables.
Broad interest was expressed in integrating related discussions into the Committee's
work, highlighting the linkages with the 2023 CTFS Thematic Session on Trade in
Financial Services and Financial Inclusion.
On 2 June, the Committee on Specific
Commitments continued its discussions on classification issues related to environmental
services. The discussion was facilitated by the Chair, Mr Sirapat
Vajraphai of Thailand.
The proponents of work on the
classification of environmental services - Switzerland, New Zealand and the United
Kingdom - proposed key elements for further discussion. They invited interested
members to engage in consultations outside the Committee and indicated that they
would provide periodic updates to members.