Servicカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ndustries are growing in importance as the basic infrastructure for the economic activities of corporations and consumers, not only in developed countries but also in the developing world. These efficient and highly productive servicカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ndustries help to strengthen the competitiveness of the mining, manufacturing, and agricultural industries, and contribute to improvements in the quality of life.
Tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services has played an important rolカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n the development of efficient and highly productive servicカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ndustries in every country. In particular, the General Agreement on Tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n Services (GATS), which entered into forcカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n 1995, laid the groundwork for the promotion of tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services. However, the history of GATS is very brief, and in many countries, there unfortunately remain various barriers to service-related business activities.
Based on this situation, we strongly support negotiations for the liberalization of tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services within the WTO. It is fervently hoped that through such negotiations, tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services amongst member countries will be further liberalized, and efforts will be made towards strengthening WTO rules.
However, as an increasing number of countries would not benefit sufficiently from services negotiations alone, there are concerns that such negotiations will not gain strong enough momentum. Consequently, the early launch of a new round of WTO negotiations, which encompasses a comprehensive agenda and incorporates services negotiations, has become an urgent issue. In particular, within the new round of negotiations, it is important that developed countries make efforts to improve market access for products from developing countries, and that disciplinカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s strengthened in order to prevent the arbitrary imposition of restrictive trade policies such as anti-dumping measures.
Thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mportance of practical guidelines for negotiations
In order to facilitate services negotiations, it is expected that every country by the end of the year will actively make proposals to promote the further liberalization of tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services, based on the Roadmap for the Negotiations adopted in May 2000.
Also, in conjunction with these activities, it will bカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mportant to draft the Negotiations Guidelines. In order to serve as a foundation for future negotiations, the Guidelines must be practical and takカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間nto consideration the viewpoints of and benefits to all WTO member countries. In particular, at the outset of negotiations, the current schedule of commitments should serve as a basis, and sufficient credit should be given to previously independent liberalization efforts should they be bound in the schedule.
Furthermore, references in the Guidelines to final deadlines for services negotiations are thought to be prematurカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n consideration of continuing efforts towards launching a new round of negotiations.
Consideration Towards Developing Countries
The proactive participation of developing countries in services negotiations is an essential factor in their success. Consequently, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s important that the negotiations accurately reflect the needs of developing countries and make the utmost cooperative efforts to meet these demands.
In conjunction, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s necessary for developed countries to strengthen technical assistance towards capacity-building in developing countries.
カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s considered particularly important for the services negotiations to abolish or relax discriminatory regulations over business activities conducted by foreign corporations, and to improve the transparency of services-related systems. The construction of an institutional framework to support the sound development of electronic commerce and the guarantee of free movement of persons are also issues of concern for us. The following is a summary of our thoughts on some of the major issues currently under discussion in the WTO.
MFN status is a basic principle of the WTO, but unfortunately, many countries, including the U.S. and European nations, register MFN exemptions. The MFN Review Meetings held recently are appreciated as the first step towards abolishing the exemptions. In the future, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s imperative that all countries continue to make efforts towards the early abolition of MFN exemptions, which run contrary to the fundamental spirit of the WTO.
Basic concept
Domestic regulations exercise great influence over services negotiations. We welcome the fact that the transparency and necessity of regulations is being discussed in the Working Party on Domestic Regulation. Furthermore, it is expected that this Working Party will review not only "measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards and licensing requirements" stipulated in Article 6.4 of the General Agreement on Tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n Services (GATS), but will investigate all service-related regulations. In particular, it is considered important to create rules regarding the transparency of cross-sectional domestic regulations. Furthermore, it will be necessary to exchange views with the regulating authorities in creating these rules.
Greater transparency of regulations
Companies face various hurdles to conducting services-related business in foreign countries, such as incomplete and opaque legal systems, sudden changes, arbitrary operation, and opaque and unreasonable licensing requirements and procedures (licensing criteria and fees, for example).
Fundamentally, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s preferable to ensure transparency in all aspects of domestic regulations, including 1) the process of establishing the regulations, 2) the regulations themselves, and 3) actual application of the regulations.
However, considering the administrative burden on each country, the realization of greater transparency of the legal system (including the availability of all laws and ministerial ordinances; establishment and announcement of investigation criteria for permits; and documentation of oral guidance) will be a necessary first step. Furthermore, as there have been cases of developing countries with no established legal system governing businesses, such as bankruptcy laws, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s desirable that developed countries provide technical assistance for the establishment of such a legal system.
The second step is to create rules to correct the excessive discretion of regulatory authorities regarding permission and approval. Specifically, it is important to establish legal systems and regulations for administrative procedures (such as the obligation to initiatカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間nvestigations; the establishment and announcement of standard process timeframe; and the disclosure of reasons in cases where permission or approval is denied).
Furthermore, if possible, thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ntroduction of so-called "public comment system" related to the establishment, revision, and abolition of regulations through national laws and ministerial ordinances should be considered.
The necessity of regulations
The concept of "not more burdensome than necessary" and "unnecessary barriers to tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services" should be clarified in the discussions on the "necessity" of domestic regulations held by the Working Party on Domestic Regulation, thereby being reflected in thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mprovement of systems in of each country.
Basic concept
The sound development of electronic commerce depends on keeping government regulations to the bare minimum and developing a framework based on the voluntary efforts of privatカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ndustrial circles. In particular, the following points are of importance: 1) To avoid establishment of unnecessary regulations and barriers for the protection of electronic commerce; 2) To ensure that in cases where regulations are necessary, they are non-discriminatory and non-restrictive to trade to the greatest extent possible; 3) To ensure sufficient transparency in related regulations; and 4) To ensurカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間nternational harmonization in thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mprovement of various systemic aspects, such as electronic certification, settlements, consumer protection, privacy, intellectual property rights, taxation and competition policies.
Regretfully however, since the Seattle Ministerial Conference, work pertaining to electronic commercカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n the WTO has stagnated and no substantial results have been attained. With this situation, the resumption of the "Work Programme on Electronic Commerce" is welcomed and it is necessary from now for member countries to accelerate their work relating to electronic commerce.
Towards negotiations on electronic commerce
Electronic commerce, characterized by its wide-ranging nature and cross-sectoral aspects and rapid progress, is having a sizable effect on international society. It is therefore wholly inappropriate to conduct negotiations on electronic commerce only within the scope of the tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services negotiations. What is necessary is to conduct negotiations from some kind of horizontal viewpoint, on themes that are common to the WTO as a whole, including the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) and Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
In addition, for the promotion of international harmonization of the wide range of systemic aspects, the role that should be played by the WTO and the role to be played by the existing special international organizations should be coordinated in order to ensure that the WTO does not take on too much responsibility for the process.
Negotiations in the WTO
Support for developing countries
When considering thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間nternational expansion of electronic commerce and the development of IT and thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間nternet, it is of urgency to bring WTO negotiations to a prompt and successful conclusion and to promote the development of systems and cultivation of an environment in developing countries whereby utilization of electronic commerce could be promoted.
In addition, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s also important to review the modalities of support for developing countries in this area by developed countries.
When enterprise perform tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services (particularly mode 3), it is important that the dispatch of company personnel (managers and persons with expertise and technical skills) abroad be conducted smoothly. However, in many countries companies are facing problems such as: 1) acquiring visas and labor permits; 2) residency requirements for company executives and employees; and 3) obligations to employ local personnel.
Each country should, through improvement of its schedule of commitments aim to realize the securing of the free movement of business-related personnel. In addition, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s also hoped that discussions can be made on achieving clarification and simplification of visa and labor permit procedures, and of requirements, while at the same time shortening the process of issuance of visas and permits.
Basic concept
Japanesカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ndustry does not feel any particular need for thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mposition of safeguard measures.
On the other hand, as developing countries move forward with liberalization, cases could be anticipated where safeguards need to bカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mposed in order to alleviate the sudden impact of such liberalization on domestic society. However, since tradカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n services is an area in which statistics have not been sufficiently developed, clear and objective rules therefore need to be formulated in GATS in order that they are not arbitrarily imposed, if regulations are to be organized for safeguard measures.
Necessity for objective rules
To this end, firstly, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s therefore necessary that detailed discussions be undertaken on what these clear objective rules or standards should be.
In addition, since safeguard measures are primarily aimed at the protection of domestic industries, the stopping or limiting of activities in enterprises which have already established a presencカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n the supply of services (mode 3), or limitations on the establishment of new branch offices and increasカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n capital, should, in principle, not be permitted. If it were the case that such limitations were to be placed, then they should only be place under non-discriminatory conditions with other domestic enterprises.
In the same way as Article XIX of the GATT, it is necessary to incorporate conditions for thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mposition of safeguard measures where domestic industry has been damaged or could be damaged" as a result of unforeseen developments".
Prompt withdrawal of measures
Safeguards are emergency measures and as such should only be permitted over a given duration that is necessary in order to stop or prevent serious damage. In order to avoid extensive application of the measures, the duration and review of safeguard measures such as Article 7.4 of the Agreement on Safeguards should bカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ncluded. Room must also be left for such restrictive measures to be withdrawn or relaxed, reflecting economic/social changes in the country.
In liberalization negotiations, Japanesカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ndustry expects that, through improvement of national schedules, among others the following will be realized: 1) limitations on foreign ownership restrictions; 2) abolition of nationality and residency requirements for directors and employees; and 3) the abolition of domestic and industry practices that discriminate between domestic and foreign industries.
Currently, various negotiation approaches are being discussed, and each approach has its merits and demerits. In the future, while discussions will be based on a request-offer approach, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s still necessary to cast light on the characteristics of each sector, and conduct individual specific review into whether model schedules or the cluster approach can be complimentarily applied.
Basic concept
The WTO Financial Services Agreement of 1997, made a large contribution to the stable development of the financial markets by heightening the stability of the financial measures of each country and investor predictability. The progress of liberalization has brought about merits for both foreign enterprises investing inwards and domestic enterprises, and it is thereforカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mportant that all countries proceed with the steady implementation of their national schedules in accordance with the WTO Financial Services Agreement of 1997.
Domestic regulations
MFN exemptions
Regarding the case of thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ndividual exemption of most favored nation status, it is expected that appropriate negotiations will be taken on reduction and abolition, in accordance with the provisions of the Annex on Articlカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間I exemptions.
Grandfathering
With regard to the grandfathering clause, from the perspective of ensuring fair and competitive conditions, cases need to be carefully and individually judged. カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s to be hoped that rights acknowledged in the grandfathering clause can be enjoyed by all member nations on an MFN basis.
Measures for Prudential Reasons
With regard to measures for prudential reasons based on Paragraph 2 of the GATS Annex on Financial Services, member countries should seek to harmonize the necessary measures they take under the scheme of international institutions, which have more expertise and technical skills rather than in WTO negotiations.
Basic concept
Despite thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mportance of maritime transport services, the Uruguay Round Negotiations on maritime transport did not reach an agreement, leaving this area outside GATS coverage. With the start of the services negotiations, the Extended Negotiations should be resumed.
Areas for negotiation
Under the recognition that competitive marine transport services contribute to the development of international trade, カジノシークレット 出金 反映時間s necessary that in addition to abolishing restrictions on the establishment of local entities and the scope of their work, and the abolition of policies for the protection of national maritime transport industries, debate must be advanced aimed at the liberalization of international maritime transportation services (international shipping). In conjunction with this, liberalization should be actively progressed with regard to auxiliary services (maritime agency services, freight-forwarding services, etc.), and port services (pilotage, towing and tug, water supplies, fuel supplies).
The three "soft rights" areas
There are many countries which have only yet committed themselves to partial liberalization under the following three areas in framework of the GATS rules, the so-called "soft rights" areas: the selling and marketing of air transport services with the exception of price setting; computer reservation system (CRS) services; and aircraft repair and maintenance.
Based on the review of the Annex on Air Transport Services that is currently underway, liberalization should be promoted in the area of the three "soft rights" in each country.
Expansion of the scope of GATS
There would be significancカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n reviewing on a case-by-case basis the liberalization of those services which currently do not fall under the scope of GATS, such as ground handling and airport management.
Problems associated with "hard rights"
Concerning the liberalization of services directly related to transportation rights (hard rights), bilateral agreements should be advanced, bearing in mind the various situations in each country.
Basic concept
Liberalization negotiations in the energy sector must be advanced on the basis of a balance between public interest (ensuring security, harmony with the environment, the provision of universal services, high supply credibility) and greater efficiency.
Problems of classification
In energy service negotiations it is necessary to review classifications, having first clarified thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間tems targeted for negotiation.
Telecommunications
In order to ensure the smooth entry into the market of new companies, it is necessary to review thカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mplementation status of national schedules of commitments on basic telecommunications, in addition to achieving an actual expansion of the number of countries that submit national schedules and a qualitativカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間mprovement in the content of the commitment. It is of particular importance to abolish or alleviate restrictions on foreign ownership, and improve transparency and clarification of the conditions and procedures for the granting of business licenses.
Construction
Construction services are provided primarily through establishment of a local base, and the following improvements, among others, are called for: 1) Improvement in restrictions on foreign ownership; 2) improvement in restrictions on business modes; 3) improvements in domestic and business regulations which discriminate against foreign business; and 4) favoring local companies and qualification restrictions in regard to public works.
Distribution
A relaxation is called for in such areas as restrictions on foreign ownership of import, retail sales and after-sales servicカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間ndustries, and restrictions on the establishment of business premises and the use of thesカジノシークレット 出金 反映時間n some developed countries.