Coherence and divergence in agreements on trade in services: A drama in three acts

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Abstract

This chapter reviews instances of coherence and divergence in trade in services agreements through recourse to a series of events that led to the creation of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and its evolution via developments at the preferential level. It traces developments in this area in three stages. It begins with an analysis of the background that explains the rise of services integration as a stand-alone topic in the agenda of multilateral trade negotiations. The focus then shifts to the genesis of the GATS; the analysis of the dynamics that evolved in the wake of the Uruguay Round; the identification of the birth defects of the GATS; and the instances of embedded divergence. Finally, the chapter discusses how preferential trade agreements (PTAs) undermine coherence but, on an optimistic note, also points to potential situations that can act as remedies for such fragmentation.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCoherence and divergence in services trade law
EditorsRhea Tamara Hoffmann, Markus Krajewski
PublisherSpringer
Pages9-35
Number of pages27
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-46955-9
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-46954-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Publication series

NameEuropean Yearbook of International Economic Law
PublisherSpringer
Volume2020
ISSN (Print)2364-8392
ISSN (Electronic)2364-8406

Keywords

  • trade in services
  • WTO law
  • GATS
  • international economic law
  • Preferential trade agreements

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