GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES
(Links to topical material)

GATS 2000 --Submission of a major US business coalition

GATS (WTO SITE)

General Obligations

Protocols

GATS Fifth Protocol

Schedules of Specific Commitments/Exemptions

Australia's Commitments/Exemptions

JSCOT Recommendation

The Australian Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) supports the Fifth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade in Services and recommends that binding treaty action be taken (to be effective on 15 June, 1999). [Report - Acrobat Reader]

NATIONAL INTEREST ANALYSIS

Prepared by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this document lists 10 "new commitments" and states that "Australia's commitments under the GATS reflect the domestic financial services regime which has already been put in place."

CRITICISM BY NATIONAL CIVIC COUNCIL

Renewed concerns about the implications of the Fifth Protocol for the ownership of Australia's banks were posted on 7 May, 1999, following JSCOT's endorsement of it. A follow-up posting on 18 May changed the target of concern to the "4-pillar" policy for bank ownership.