Further to the answer to question S1W-30235 by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 October 2002, whether any other effective market access for service p…

The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) applies to measures affecting trade in services taken by central, regional or local governments and authorities and by non-governmental bodies in the exercise of powers delegated by such governments and authorities. Progressive liberalisation under the GATS concerns the reduction or elimination of the adverse effects on trade in services of such measures as a means of providing effective market access for foreign service suppliers. Requests for liberalisation by World Trade Organisation members do not seek the privatisation of state supplied public services. The GATS recognises the right of member governments to regulate and to introduce new regulations on the supply of services to meet national policy objectives.