EUROPEAN SERVICES FORUM

Trade and business associations

Members of the European Services Forum have adopted the following Set of principles:

1. In the coming decades, issues related to international trade in services will present challenges to the multilateral trading system that at least equal, in importance and difficulty, tariff and non-tariff barriers to the development of trade in goods.

2. While bilateral and regional agreements and initiatives can play a useful supportive role, a firm and widely supported multilateral agreement remains the ultimate goal of services negotiations within the WTO.

3. Services and other services-related issues (such as investment and public procurement) should be negotiated in all international trade negotiations, with as much emphasis that the one given to trade in goods.

4. International trade in services negotiations should create much improved opportunities for profitable international business. To that end, they should:
• be ambitious in their goals for real liberalisation, (...)

3562594969-02

Brussels

BE

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