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Water in the GATS: Methodology and Results

Author

Listed:
  • Sébastien Miroudot

    (OECD)

  • Kätlin Pertel

    (OECD)

Abstract

The water in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) refers to the difference between the bound level of trade restrictiveness permitted by the GATS and the actual trade regime. Using the OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI), this report provides estimates of the water in 15 service sectors for 40 countries. The level of water in GATS commitments varies across sectors. It is highest in sectors where most countries have no commitments (unbound), such as audio-visual services or transport services, as well as sectors where countries tend to make commitments only for selected types of activities, such as legal services. The lowest level of water is observed in sectors such as telecoms, construction, computer and distribution services that are also characterised by a more liberal trade regime. Generally speaking, current services trade policies are much more open than what countries have committed in the GATS and sectors that are “unbound” can be fairly open.

Suggested Citation

  • Sébastien Miroudot & Kätlin Pertel, 2015. "Water in the GATS: Methodology and Results," OECD Trade Policy Papers 185, OECD Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:oec:traaab:185-en
    DOI: 10.1787/5jrs6k35nnf1-en
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Philipp Lamprecht & Sébastien Miroudot, 2020. "The value of market access and national treatment commitments in services trade agreements," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(11), pages 2880-2904, November.
    2. Alina HAGIU & Marinela BARBULESCU, 2019. "The Role Of Wto And International Cooperation On Services Trade Policy," Scientific Bulletin - Economic Sciences, University of Pitesti, vol. 18(3), pages 83-90.
    3. Roy, Martin, 2019. "Elevating services: Services trade policy, WTO commitments, and their role in economic development and trade integration," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2019-01, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    4. Susara J. Jansen Van Rensburg & Riaan Rossouw & Wilma Viviers, 2020. "Liberalizing Bangladesh’s Services Trade: Is Joining Trade in Services Agreement the Way to Go?," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 21(1), pages 99-121, March.
    5. Hoekman, Bernard & Shepherd, Ben, 2021. "Services Trade Policies and Economic Integration: New Evidence for Developing Countries," World Trade Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(1), pages 115-134, February.
    6. Dadkhah, Ali & Ciuriak, Dan, 2018. "Evaluating the Impact of FTAs on FDI: A Text-Based Approach," Conference papers 332959, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    GATS; services trade restrictions;

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations

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