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721.8 kB - Poledna | Boss | Kurer

721.8 kB - Poledna | Boss | Kurer

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trade in services and around 50 percent of HongKong's services trade. In 2011, Hong Kong's servicesexports to the PSA economies reached HKD370bn(USD47.7bn), registering an average annual growthrate of 4.9 percent for the period from 2007 to 2011.In particular, Hong Kong's exports of financial servicesto the PSA participants are very significant, accountingfor around 80 percent of its total exportsin the sector. This is followed by business services(including professional, computer, research and development,real estate and rental/leasing services)and transport services.To assist the Government in formulating HongKong's overall position in the PSA negotiations,a consultation document has been issued by theTrade and Industry Department (TID), and repliesare requested by June 18, 2013.Views are invited on which service sectors and servicemeasures of the participating economies HongKong should particularly focus on in the negotiationsunder the PSA – for example, for relativelynew markets whether the provision of a service ina particular sector or a particular mode is beingcontemplated, or whether there are any existing orforeseeable hurdles to the provision of any servicesin any of the markets involved.In addition, the TID would like to know whetherthere are any service sectors, areas or measures inwhich Hong Kong should be more cautious in undertakingcommitments.Finally, as new or enhanced disciplines will also benegotiated on the basis of proposals by PSA participantsfor inclusion in the agreement, the TID is invitingfurther views on the areas of disciplines thatshould be focused on, and whether there are existinghurdles faced by Hong Kong service suppliersin the export of services that could be addressed bynew and enhanced disciplines for trade in services.These disciplines, similar to agreed and bindingbest practices, seek to address regulatory practicesthat may impair the benefits accruing to the participantsin the PSA. In preliminary discussions,participants have, so far, signaled interests in negotiatingdisciplines in a number of areas, includingdomestic regulation, movement of natural persons,information and communications technology, maritimetransport, government procurement, professionaland education services, export subsidies, andpostal and courier.Caribbean Prepares ForWTO Trade Policy ReviewTerritories of the Organization of East CaribbeanStates (OECS) that have acceded to membershipof the World Trade Organization (WTO) are to receivetechnical support ahead of a six-yearly reviewby the global trade body assessing their trade andtax policies.In anticipation of the WTO review in a year'stime, the OECS Secretariat's Geneva TechnicalMission and the Trade Policy Unit will assistthe territories, in recognition of the extensive58

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