The U.S. International Trade Commission has initiated an investigation of specific commitments scheduled by selected African countries pursuant to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

The investigation, General Agreement on Trade in Services: Examination of the Schedules of Commitments Submitted by African Trading Partners (Inv. No. 332-399), was requested by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. It follows four previous studies: General Agreement on Trade in Services: Examination of the Schedules of Commitments Submitted by Eastern Europe, the European Free Trade Association, and Turkey (published September 1998); General Agreement on Trade in Services: Examination of the Schedules of Commitments Submitted by Asia/Pacific Trading Partners (published August 1997); General Agreement on Trade in Service: Examination of South American Trading Partners' Schedules of Commitments (published December 1996), and General Agreement on Trade in Services: Examination of Major Trading Partners' Schedules of Commitments (published December 1995).

As in the previous studies, the ITC will explain commitments in nontechnical language, and identify the potential benefits and limitations of such commitments. The investigation will examine schedules of commitments from C“te D'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as they pertain to the following service industries:

• distribution services (defined as wholesaling, retailing, and franchising services);
  
• education services;
  
• communication services (defined as basic and enhanced telecommunication, audiovisual, and courier services);
  
• health care services;
  
• professional services (defined as accounting, advertising, and legal services);
  
• architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) services;
  
• land-based transport services (defined as rail and trucking services); and
  
• travel and tourism services.

The Commission expects to submit its report to the USTR by October 15, 1999. The report is expected to be made available to the public thereafter.

The ITC seeks input for the report from all interested parties. Information submitted should focus on specific service industries affected by the commitments, including information on existing services trade barriers in these countries.

A public hearing will be held on June 2, 1999, in connection with the investigation. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on May 17, 1999, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20436.

The Commission also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions (one original and 14 copies) should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and submitted at the earliest practical date and no later than 5:15 p.m. on June 15, 1999. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the ITC's notice of investigation, dated November 10, 1998, which may be obtained from the ITC Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-1806.