answer text |
<p>The European Union is currently negotiating free trade agreements with Japan, the
United States, India (currently at a standstill) and an investment agreement with
China. Each of these negotiations includes services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For
the EU, trade in services is of strategic importance. The sector accounts for some
three-quarters of EU gross domestic product (GDP) and of EU jobs. Liberalising trade
in services will be an important component of the EU negotiations with Japan and the
United States.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The EU is committed to the inclusion
of services in its free trade agreements. In the investment agreement with China,
the EU is addressing market access issues relating to services and it is hoped that
the India FTA negotiations will resume. In the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership agreement (TTIP) between the EU and US, better market access for services
is one of the top priorities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In recognising the importance
of trade in services negotiations the EU is also taking an active role in the Trade
in Services (TiSA) negotiations. TiSA is based on the WTO's General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS), which involves all WTO members.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>More
information on TiSA can be found on the following website <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa/"
target="_blank">http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa/</a></p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p>
|
|