BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a855fb6b9851 DTSTART:20180326T040000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20180326T040000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Workshop on enhancing the development potential of trade in service s for the least developed countries through preferential treatment CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:The session will provide an opportunity for a discussion on imp roving access to services export markets and domestic supply capacity for LDCs in the context of the waiver concerning preferential treatment to ser vices and service suppliers of LDCs\, under the World Trade Organization. The workshop will build upon the UNCTAD project on capacity-building of LD Cs in trade in services for sustainable development.\n\nWhy preferential t reatment matters \n\nThe services sector is a central component of the dev elopment aspirations of LDCs\, accounting for major contributions to outpu t and export value added. The share of services in direct exports is lower than that of goods\, yet the sector remains a key avenue for diversificat ion\, as direct exports of services have been more dynamic and resilient t han direct exports of goods. In LDCs\, between 2008 and 2016\, the share o f services in total exports rose from 11 to 19 per cent. However\, the sha re of LDC services exports in global exports remains at less than 1 per ce nt.\n\nPreferential treatment for LDCs in trade in services allows for new or reinforced trade opportunities. The importance of special priority for LDCs is recognized by the General Agreement on Trade in Services. The ser vices waiver further allows World Trade Organization members to derogate f rom the most-favoured nation obligation to provide preferential treatment to services and service suppliers from LDCs.\n\nThe relevance of the servi ces waiver depends\, however\, on the additionality of preferences with re gard to existing commitments at multilateral\, regional and bilateral leve ls and with regard to applied regimes. An evaluation of the meaningfulness of preferences requires country-specific modal and sectoral analyses and thorough services assessments that provide benchmarks of significance and viability in support of preferential treatment initiatives.\n\nNational Ca se Studies\n\nDuring the workshop\, case studies will be presented of four LDCs\, namely Cambodia\, Nepal\, Senegal and Zambia.\n\nThe studies revie w the implementation of the services waiver for these countries and seek t o assess the relevance of the notified preferences\, whether and to what e xtent exporters have been able to utilize the preferences granted and poss ible gaps and opportunities for better tailoring of preferences to the nee ds and capacities of LDCs. In addition\, the studies identify the domestic capacity constraints faced by LDCs\, including those related to infrastru cture\, skills\, technology and regulatory and institutional frameworks\, which may limit their ability to reap the benefits of the services waiver. \n\nKey questions to be addressed\n\n\nTo what extent does preferential tr eatment adequately address the challenges faced by LDC services exporters with regard to access to foreign markets and domestic supply capacity?\nHo w can preferential treatment contribute to the use of trade in services by LDCs as a development strategy?\nWhat do LDC services suppliers need to s ucceed in export priority sectors and modes of supply?\nHow can preferenti al treatment granted under the World Trade Organization and related discus sions in the Council for Trade in Services be better tailored to enable LD Cs to successfully increase their services exports\, thereby contributing to their overall development opportunities?\nHow can preferential treatmen t address domestic capacity constraints\, including in infrastructure\, sk ills and technology?\n\n\nParticipation\n\nThe workshop is open to all Gen eva Delegates. Registration should be completed online.\n<\;p>\;The se ssion will provide an opportunity for a discussion on improving access to services export markets and domestic supply capacity for LDCs in the conte xt of the waiver concerning preferential treatment to services and service suppliers of LDCs\, under the World Trade Organization. The workshop will build upon the UNCTAD project on capacity-building of LDCs in trade in se rvices for sustainable development.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;<\;strong& gt\;Why preferential treatment matters <\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;\n\n&l t\;p>\;The services sector is a central component of the development asp irations of LDCs\, accounting for major contributions to output and export value added. The share of services in direct exports is lower than that o f goods\, yet the sector remains a key avenue for diversification\, as dir ect exports of services have been more dynamic and resilient than direct e xports of goods. In LDCs\, between 2008 and 2016\, the share of services i n total exports rose from 11 to 19 per cent. However\, the share of LDC se rvices exports in global exports remains at less than 1 per cent.<\;/p&g t\;\n\n<\;p>\;Preferential treatment for LDCs in trade in services all ows for new or reinforced trade opportunities. The importance of special p riority for LDCs is recognized by the General Agreement on Trade in Servic es. The services waiver further allows World Trade Organization members to derogate from the most-favoured nation obligation to provide preferential treatment to services and service suppliers from LDCs.<\;/p>\;\n\n< \;p>\;The relevance of the services waiver depends\, however\, on the ad ditionality of preferences with regard to existing commitments at multilat eral\, regional and bilateral levels and with regard to applied regimes. A n evaluation of the meaningfulness of preferences requires country-specifi c modal and sectoral analyses and thorough services assessments that provi de benchmarks of significance and viability in support of preferential tre atment initiatives.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;<\;strong>\;National Cas e Studies<\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;During the workshop\, case studies will be presented of four LDCs\, namely Cambodia\, Nepal\, S enegal and Zambia.<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The studies review the implem entation of the services waiver for these countries and seek to assess the relevance of the notified preferences\, whether and to what extent export ers have been able to utilize the preferences granted and possible gaps an d opportunities for better tailoring of preferences to the needs and capac ities of LDCs. In addition\, the studies identify the domestic capacity co nstraints faced by LDCs\, including those related to infrastructure\, skil ls\, technology and regulatory and institutional frameworks\, which may li mit their ability to reap the benefits of the services waiver.<\;/p>\; \n\n<\;p>\;Key questions to be addressed<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;ul>\;\n <\;li>\;To what extent does preferential treatment adequately address the challenges faced by LDC services exporters with regard to access to fo reign markets and domestic supply capacity?<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;How can preferential treatment contribute to the use of trade in services by L DCs as a development strategy?<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;What do LDC servi ces suppliers need to succeed in export priority sectors and modes of supp ly?<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;How can preferential treatment granted under the World Trade Organization and related discussions in the Council for T rade in Services be better tailored to enable LDCs to successfully increas e their services exports\, thereby contributing to their overall developme nt opportunities?<\;/li>\;\n<\;li>\;How can preferential treatment address domestic capacity constraints\, including in infrastructure\, ski lls and technology?<\;/li>\;\n<\;/ul>\;\n\n<\;p>\;<\;strong& gt\;Participation<\;/strong>\;<\;/p>\;\n\n<\;p>\;The workshop is open to all Geneva Delegates. Registration should be completed online.& lt\;/p>\;\n\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/wo rkshop-enhancing-development-potential-trade-services-least-developed-coun tries-through DTSTAMP:20260819T074806Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR