> Joint ITU/WTO Training Workshop for Telecom Regulators, 1-7 December 2004

Introduction  back to top

• Coverage of basic telecommunications and value-added services

This is why member governments agreed to continue negotiations on basic telecommunications. Talks therefore resumed in 1994 and ended in February 1997 with new commitments.

The current negotiations  back to top

Currently, telecommunications, like all services are included in the new services negotiations, which began January 2000. Several Members or groups of Members have submitted negotiating proposals in telecommunications services.

• Proposals on telecommunication services

Special events  back to top

• Basic Telecommunications Negotiations: 10th Anniversary Symposium — 20-21 February 2008
• Joint ITU/WTO Training Workshop for Telecom Regulators, 1-7 December 2004
  > News item (1 December 2004)
• Special session on telecommunications services, Council for Trade in Services, 25 June 1999 which discussed the establishment of independent regulators and other issues regarding implementation of telecommunications commitments.

The mandate  back to top

The backdrop for telecom services negotiations is, of course, the GATS which contains the Principles for trade in all services. Included in the GATS, is the Annex on telecommunications which deals with specific points pertaining to trade in telecom services, such as access to public networks.
> Annex explanation

The Post-Uruguay round negotiators, for basic telecommunications, attached to the GATS the Fourth Protocol to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (adopted 30 April 1996; entry into force 5 February 1998). This document provided the legal basis for the annexation of new basic telecommunications schedules to the Uruguay Round services schedules.

Current commitments and exemptions  back to top

WTO members had several occasions to table telecommunications commitments and exemptions:

• during the Uruguay Round negotiations
• during the basic telecommunications negotiations, which took place after the Uruguay Round
• at the time of their accession (for Members who joined after the Uruguay Round)
• at any time, in a unilateral fashion

> List of all current telecommunications commitments and exemptions

The Secretariat has also prepared an unofficial, at-a-glace compilation of basic telecom services in Excel format (opens in a new window). If you prefer, you can also read country-by-country summary descriptions of their commitments.

See also: Services Database (opens a new window)
  > All commitments and MFN exemptions

History of the Negotiations: Uruguay Round and Post-Uruguay Round negotiations in basic telecommunications  back to top

Aware that basic telecommunications was as yet unripe for commitments, negotiators drafted the Ministerial Decision on negotiations of basic telecommunications. It was adopted in Marrakesh on April 15, 1994.

• History of the basic telecommunications negotiations
• Summary of the results of the negotiations on basic telecommunications

One of the often-mentioned breakthroughs of these negotiations was the Reference Paper, a compilation of regulatory principles for participants to consider binding in their basic telecommunications commitments.
Further information on the Reference Paper.