(June 8 – 14:50) – The Ministry of Finance is soliciting input on the international trade in financial services.
Finance is asking for industry and consumer comments regarding the treatment of financial services in the General Agreement on Trade in Services. GATS negotiations are underway at the World Trade Organisation on the liberalization of trade, including financial services.
Finance says, “The input and participation of the financial services sector is essential to establishing appropriate negotiating objectives and determining Canada’s negotiating agenda.” It says it’s seeking views on “any issue relating to the WTO negotiations in financial services”. It is specifically interested in defining negotiating goals, areas of the agreements that need to be examined, and any changes that are needed to accommodate the development of e-commerce.
The consultation documents are available at: http://www.fin.gc.ca/finsearch/wn_e.asp
For further information on the WTO services negotiations in general visit: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/sk00013e.html
-James Langton