Cablegate: Spanish Views On Wto Services Negotiations:Revised
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS MADRID 001819
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/MTA ROBERT DOWNES/ANISSA WHITTEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD WTO
SUBJECT: SPANISH VIEWS ON WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS:REVISED
OFFER
REF: REF: STATE 81619
1. Summary: The GOS devotes significant staff to services.
Insurance, telecoms and banking are Spain's main interests.
The EU is making an effort to improve its services offer
according to GOS interlocutors. The EU has not shared with
Member States examples of alleged "roll-backs". The EU is
planning to improve its Mode 4 offer, although it will
probably not make an offer in May for numerical ceilings for
economic needs tests (ENTs). End Summary
2. Trade Policy officer met on May 12 with Ministry of
Industry,Tourism and Trade Subdirector General Jose Alberto
Plaza Tejera and Cristina Calvo to discuss the issues raised
in reftel.
GOS DEVOTES SIGNIFICANT STAFF TO SERVICES
-----------------------------------------
3. The unit that Tejera head ups has eight professionals
working full time on services. In addition, other Ministries
contribute expertise such as, for instance, the Ministry of
Finance for banking services. Tejera expressed confidence
that the GOS could engage on the international services
debate despite its personnel intensive nature. Somebody from
his office goes to Brussels once or twice a month to attend
133 Committee meetings on services.
SECTORAL INTEREST IN SERVICES TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
--------------------------------------------- ---
4. Spanish insurance, telecoms (specifically Telefonica),
energy companies, and banking firms are interested in the WTO
services talks. However, they tend to be focussed on
specific issues arising from investments overseas, rather
than the broader policy issues stemming from trade, not
investment, in services. Telefonica is an exception,
however, with a full time staff person devoted to following
international trade talks.
NO DETAIL ON ALLEGED "ROLL-BACKS"
---------------------------------
5. Tejera said the GOS was not aware of a lack of ambition or
"roll-backs) with respect to the American services offer. He
said the Commission had not shared examples of roll-backs
with the Member States. He promised to get back to Trade
Policy Officer if he learned of any examples.
EU MOVEMENT ON MODE 4 LIKELY
----------------------------
6. Tejera said there would likely be an improved EU offer on
mode 4. He said the developed countries had to make a
"gesture" to developing countries. In his personal view
though, even a new and improved EU offer would not be enough
for developing countries. He mentioned that the EU is
considering a better offer for contractual services suppliers
and independent professionals. With respect to the latter, he
said the Commission was studying allowing legal services to
be included. Conditions for supplying services would be
stringent though. Local wage and benefit levels would be
mandatory, and there would be a six month limitation. Tejera
noted that the EU would not be able to make an ENT offer this
month. In general, the EU is still studying how make Mode 4
commitments conceptually compatible with immigration regimes.
He acknowledged this was a tough problem for the U.S. and
the EU.
MANZANARES