<p>The aim of this work is to analyse the current provisions on domestic regulation contained in the GATS, as well as to examine the negotiations on future disciplines currently being worked on by WTO members. In particular it aims to see what impact these rules will have on the licensing of telecoms services. In addition the study seeks to investigate whether, on a proper analysis and understanding of the legal texts on domestic regulation, the claims made by some civil society organisations and NGOs are valid.59<br /> &nbsp / </p>

<p>The aim of this work is to analyse the current provisions on domestic regulation contained in the GATS, as well as to examine the negotiations on future disciplines currently being worked on by WTO members. In particular it aims to see what impact these rules will have on the licensing of telecoms services. In addition the study seeks to investigate whether, on a proper analysis and understanding of the legal texts on domestic regulation, the claims made by some civil society organisations and NGOs are valid.59<br /> &nbsp / </p>

Magister Legum - LLM / The aim of this work is to analyse the current provisions on domestic regulation contained in the GATS, as well as to examine the negotiations on future disciplines currently being worked on by WTO members. In particular it aims to see what impact these rules will have on the licensing of telecoms services. In addition the study seeks to investigate whether, on a proper analysis and understanding of the legal texts on domestic regulation, the claims made by some civil society organisations and NGOs are valid. / South Africa

Analisa o impacto da convergência tecnológica na atual classificação do setor de comunicação do GATS e, em que medida tal impacto altera os compromissos assumidos pelos Membros da OMC nos serviços de telecomunicação e audiovisual, e em particular no que respeita ao conteúdo audiovisual. Ademais, investiga os interesses brasileiros na questão diante das iniciativas governamentais para a regulação do conteúdo audiovisual. Com base na experiência profissional da autora na OMC e no setor de comunicação no Brasil, da leitura de doutrina nacional e estrangeira sobre o tema proposto e de conversas com negociadores brasileiros na OMC, o trabalho verifica primeiramente a estrutura básica do GATS, seu histórico de negociações, indicando as motivações para a inclusão no Acordo do setor de comunicação, bem como sua arquitetura organizacional que é fundamental para a flexibilidade conferida aos Membros. Trata, ainda, do controle pela OMC na aplicação das obrigações concernentes ao GATS. Posteriormente, discute o tratamento dado ao setor de comunicação e, em particular, aos subsetores de telecomunicação e audiovisual, bem como suas diferenças e inter-relações, verificando exemplos práticos do impacto da convergência, bem como da internet. Na sequência, aborda dispositivos do GATS que preservam a capacidade dos Membros de eleger políticas regulatórias, examinando o artigo VI(4), pois garante um equilíbrio entre a premissa de liberalização comercial da OMC e o direito à preservação da capacidade regulatória dos Membros. Verifica, também, o conceito de regulamentação doméstica no GATS e nos direitos brasileiro e comparado, vislumbrando o alcance da regulação de conteúdo audiovisual no Acordo, e se, dada a natureza especial que a ele se atribui, deve ou não ser tratado de modo especial. Para tanto, analisa a distinção entre os enfoques cultural e econômico protagonizados, respectivamente, por União Europeia e Estados Unidos, e a influência da Convenção da UNESCO sobre a Proteção e Promoção da Diversidade das Expressões Culturais nos compromissos em audiovisual, mesmo sem ser parte integrante do GATS. Mostra, também, o atual cenário sobre conteúdo audiovisual no GATS, examinando os marcos regulatórios norte-americano e europeu, inclusive no tocante às cotas de conteúdo nacional, bem como a influência desses marcos nas negociações, inclusive no âmbito de propostas apresentadas na Rodada Doha. Verifica, ainda, que há poucos compromissos e muitas isenções à cláusula de nação mais favorecida inseridas nas Listas Nacionais, o que leva ao exame da Lista brasileira para o setor de comunicação. Examina, na sequência, as decisões do Órgão de Solução de Controvérsias da OMC que poderão ser utilizadas em futuras controvérsias sobre o setor. Por fim, trata do marco regulatório sobre conteúdo audiovisual no direito brasileiro, observando os efeitos da convergência, além de estudar se a legislação atual comporta as mudanças por ela provocadas. Para tanto, analisa a atuação das agências reguladoras e Ministérios que disciplinam o setor da comunicação face às garantias constitucionais da liberdade de expressão e acesso à informação para entender a relação entre conteúdo e regulação e verificar quais situações justificam a regulação. No contexto, verifica a iniciativa brasileira quanto à criação de cotas de conteúdo nacional. / This thesis analyses the impact of technological convergence at the current classification of the communications sector at the GATS and to which extent it changes the commitments made by the WTO Members at the telecommunications and audiovisual services, in particular regarding audiovisual content. In addition, it examines the Brazilian interests regarding governmental initiatives for audiovisual content regulation. Based on the professional experience of the author at the WTO and the communications sector in Brazil, a considerable amount of foreign and Brazilian literature about the proposed subject and conversations with Brazilian negotiators at the WTO, the thesis firstly analyses the basic structure of the GATS, contextualizes its negotiations, pointing out the motivations to include the communications sector and verifies its organizational architecture, which is fundamental to preserve the flexibility granted to WTO Members. Secondly, it discusses the treatment given to the communications sector, mainly to the subsectors of telecommunications and audiovisual, as well as the differences and correlations among those subsectors. It also verifies practical examples of the impact of technological convergence and the internet at the sector. Thirdly, it addresses GATS provisions preserving Members capacity to choose regulatory policies. The work analyses article VI (4) which guarantees the balance between WTO commercial liberalization and the right to preserve Members regulatory capacity. Also, it addresses the domestic regulation concept at the GATS and at Brazilian and foreign laws in order to understand the extent of audiovisual content regulation at the referred agreement and whether audiovisual content should be treated in a special way. In this sense, it studies the distinction between cultural and economic approaches defended respectively by the European Union and the USA and the influence of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions on the commitments made for audiovisual services, even without being part of the GATS. Fourthly, it shows the current GATS scenario on audiovisual content by examining the European and the US legal frameworks, including content quotas, and the influence of said frameworks at the negotiations, including as per the Members proposals submitted at the Doha Round. It also verifies that there are few commitments and many exemptions to the MNF clause listed in the National Schedules of specific commitments, therein included the Brazilian schedule for the communications sector. The thesis also discusses certain decisions of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body which could be used in future disputes related to the sector. Finally, it addresses the Brazilian legal framework on audiovisual content, identifying the effects of convergence, and examines whether the current legal framework supports the changes caused by convergence. In this sense, the work analyses the role of regulatory agencies and ministries ruling on the communications sector in Brazil vis à vis the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and access to information so as to understand the relation between content and regulation and to verify which situations justify content regulation. In this context, it verifies the Brazilian content quotas initiative.

Analisa o impacto da convergência tecnológica na atual classificação do setor de comunicação do GATS e, em que medida tal impacto altera os compromissos assumidos pelos Membros da OMC nos serviços de telecomunicação e audiovisual, e em particular no que respeita ao conteúdo audiovisual. Ademais, investiga os interesses brasileiros na questão diante das iniciativas governamentais para a regulação do conteúdo audiovisual. Com base na experiência profissional da autora na OMC e no setor de comunicação no Brasil, da leitura de doutrina nacional e estrangeira sobre o tema proposto e de conversas com negociadores brasileiros na OMC, o trabalho verifica primeiramente a estrutura básica do GATS, seu histórico de negociações, indicando as motivações para a inclusão no Acordo do setor de comunicação, bem como sua arquitetura organizacional que é fundamental para a flexibilidade conferida aos Membros. Trata, ainda, do controle pela OMC na aplicação das obrigações concernentes ao GATS. Posteriormente, discute o tratamento dado ao setor de comunicação e, em particular, aos subsetores de telecomunicação e audiovisual, bem como suas diferenças e inter-relações, verificando exemplos práticos do impacto da convergência, bem como da internet. Na sequência, aborda dispositivos do GATS que preservam a capacidade dos Membros de eleger políticas regulatórias, examinando o artigo VI(4), pois garante um equilíbrio entre a premissa de liberalização comercial da OMC e o direito à preservação da capacidade regulatória dos Membros. Verifica, também, o conceito de regulamentação doméstica no GATS e nos direitos brasileiro e comparado, vislumbrando o alcance da regulação de conteúdo audiovisual no Acordo, e se, dada a natureza especial que a ele se atribui, deve ou não ser tratado de modo especial. Para tanto, analisa a distinção entre os enfoques cultural e econômico protagonizados, respectivamente, por União Europeia e Estados Unidos, e a influência da Convenção da UNESCO sobre a Proteção e Promoção da Diversidade das Expressões Culturais nos compromissos em audiovisual, mesmo sem ser parte integrante do GATS. Mostra, também, o atual cenário sobre conteúdo audiovisual no GATS, examinando os marcos regulatórios norte-americano e europeu, inclusive no tocante às cotas de conteúdo nacional, bem como a influência desses marcos nas negociações, inclusive no âmbito de propostas apresentadas na Rodada Doha. Verifica, ainda, que há poucos compromissos e muitas isenções à cláusula de nação mais favorecida inseridas nas Listas Nacionais, o que leva ao exame da Lista brasileira para o setor de comunicação. Examina, na sequência, as decisões do Órgão de Solução de Controvérsias da OMC que poderão ser utilizadas em futuras controvérsias sobre o setor. Por fim, trata do marco regulatório sobre conteúdo audiovisual no direito brasileiro, observando os efeitos da convergência, além de estudar se a legislação atual comporta as mudanças por ela provocadas. Para tanto, analisa a atuação das agências reguladoras e Ministérios que disciplinam o setor da comunicação face às garantias constitucionais da liberdade de expressão e acesso à informação para entender a relação entre conteúdo e regulação e verificar quais situações justificam a regulação. No contexto, verifica a iniciativa brasileira quanto à criação de cotas de conteúdo nacional. / This thesis analyses the impact of technological convergence at the current classification of the communications sector at the GATS and to which extent it changes the commitments made by the WTO Members at the telecommunications and audiovisual services, in particular regarding audiovisual content. In addition, it examines the Brazilian interests regarding governmental initiatives for audiovisual content regulation. Based on the professional experience of the author at the WTO and the communications sector in Brazil, a considerable amount of foreign and Brazilian literature about the proposed subject and conversations with Brazilian negotiators at the WTO, the thesis firstly analyses the basic structure of the GATS, contextualizes its negotiations, pointing out the motivations to include the communications sector and verifies its organizational architecture, which is fundamental to preserve the flexibility granted to WTO Members. Secondly, it discusses the treatment given to the communications sector, mainly to the subsectors of telecommunications and audiovisual, as well as the differences and correlations among those subsectors. It also verifies practical examples of the impact of technological convergence and the internet at the sector. Thirdly, it addresses GATS provisions preserving Members capacity to choose regulatory policies. The work analyses article VI (4) which guarantees the balance between WTO commercial liberalization and the right to preserve Members regulatory capacity. Also, it addresses the domestic regulation concept at the GATS and at Brazilian and foreign laws in order to understand the extent of audiovisual content regulation at the referred agreement and whether audiovisual content should be treated in a special way. In this sense, it studies the distinction between cultural and economic approaches defended respectively by the European Union and the USA and the influence of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions on the commitments made for audiovisual services, even without being part of the GATS. Fourthly, it shows the current GATS scenario on audiovisual content by examining the European and the US legal frameworks, including content quotas, and the influence of said frameworks at the negotiations, including as per the Members proposals submitted at the Doha Round. It also verifies that there are few commitments and many exemptions to the MNF clause listed in the National Schedules of specific commitments, therein included the Brazilian schedule for the communications sector. The thesis also discusses certain decisions of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body which could be used in future disputes related to the sector. Finally, it addresses the Brazilian legal framework on audiovisual content, identifying the effects of convergence, and examines whether the current legal framework supports the changes caused by convergence. In this sense, the work analyses the role of regulatory agencies and ministries ruling on the communications sector in Brazil vis à vis the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and access to information so as to understand the relation between content and regulation and to verify which situations justify content regulation. In this context, it verifies the Brazilian content quotas initiative.

服務貿易的管制密集，因此管制也最有可能形成主要的貿易障礙，然而服務貿易總協定第6條第4項國內規章準則的談判卻幾近停滯。本文探究其中原因，著眼於管制、國內規章準則的共同點皆在於「管制」，而好的管制必然植基於成本效益評估，因此必要性測試即成為國內規章準則的核心。必要性測試的核心為管制目的、成本效益評估，本文觀察必要性測試的談判歷程，認為必要性測試的談判實不應透過管制目的的限縮，而應著重於成本效益的衡量，因此著重於成本效益評估要件的設計方有可能於必要性測試的議題取得突破。 / As service sector is heavily regulated, domestic regulation might become the major trade barrier. However, the negotiation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) article 6.4 is almost stalled. The paper aims at analyzing the challenges in the negotiation. Focusing on the common nature of “governance” between domestic regulation and trade governance in GATS article 6.4, the paper argues that good governance must be based on impact analysis, which makes necessity test the core of GATS article 6.4 negotiation. The paper examines the negotiation history of necessity test, and argues that the focus of negotiation should be the necessity analysis, rather than the scope of objectives in necessity test. The solution of the negotiation challenge is therefore focusing on the elements of necessity analysis, particularly the trade restrictiveness.

技師服務具有高度專業性與技術性，且與一國基礎建設具重大關係，攸關人民生命財產安全，往往受到各國政府之管制。各國為確保技師服務提供之品質，通常對於技師服務進行證照管制，令技師服務之提供限於取得該國技師資格與執業執照者始得為之。有關技師資格與核發執業執照之規定通常散落於各國國內規章中，該等國內規章之適用勢必將對技師服務貿易產生影響。 在世界貿易組織(World Trade Organization，以下簡稱WTO)之服務貿易總協定下(General Agreement on Trade in Services)，WTO會員基於自願性之基礎對各項服務部門之市場開放提出承諾，技師服務屬於專業服務之範疇，亦包含於會員可能提出開放承諾之範圍內。由於各會員國內規章之規定並不須納入會員服務貿易特定承諾表內，因此若欲了解技師服務貿易自由化之情形，除須檢視各國對於技師服務所為之開放承諾外，亦應瞭解國內規章對於技師服務貿易所造成之限制。 本文以技師資格相關之國內規章為出發點，探討國內規章對於技師服務貿易自由化所產生之影響，並針對目前國際間有關技師資格之相互認許進行討論，最後對於未來技師服務貿易自由化提出建議。 / Engineering services, with high professional specialty and technical background, plays an essential role in national infrastructure and is fatal to public security. To ensure the quality of the services provided, national governments usually implement the license regulation on engineering services. Only those who obtain the engineer qualification and acquire the license can practice their own specialty. The requirement for engineer qualification and license issuing, containing in the domestic regulations, will definitely have the impact on trades of engineering services. Under the General Agreement on Trade in Services of the World Trade Organization (hereinafter the “WTO”), WTO members make market-access commitments on a number of service sectors on the basis of voluntary. Since engineering services belongs to the category of professional services, it may also be the subject included in the commitments made by members. Since members have no obligations to inscribe domestic regulations in their schedules of specific commitments, with the purpose to understand the practical trade liberalization of engineering services, we should not simply focus on the commitments made by members, the limitation to trade of engineering services caused by domestic regulations should also be taken into consideration. This thesis initiates with the relevant domestic regulations of engineer qualification, observing how those regulations would affect the trade liberalization of engineering services. It accordingly discusses the nowadays international mutual recognition system of engineer qualification, and ends with some suggestions and thoughts regarding the future trade liberalization of engineering services.

yes / Small arms and light weapons have become the weapons of choice in conflicts around the world and figure prominently in crime. Recently, considerable attention has been focused on the proliferation of SALW at the national, regional and international level. The recognition that m o s t illicit SALW began as legal weapons is, however, fundamental to efforts to reduce the proliferation and misuse of SALW and the diversion of civilian weapons is one source of supply. Indeed, it is estimated that there are as many SALW in the hands of civilians worldwide as there are in the possession of states, and that in many parts of the world diversion from civilian stocks is the principal source of the illicit supply. Consequently, strengthening domestic regulation, which reduces the diversion of legal weapons to illegal markets, is a critical part of any strategy to address illicit trafficking. It is also consistent with resolutions from the United Nations Security Council and other Commissions as well as regional initiatives. This briefing reviews the ways in which SALW are diverted from legal to illegal markets and the measures which can be used to reduce this diversion. In addressing illicit trafficking in all its aspects, it is imperative that the UN Conference not does neglect this significant problem.

yes / The majority of small arms and light weapons currently in circulation are in civilian possession1. An estimated fifty-nine percent of weapons around the world are in civilian hands and in some regions such as Europe this is closer to eighty per cent.2 While the majority of these arms are used for lawful purposes a significant percentage are not. The misuse of these arms by civilians can cause major damage to people¿s livelihoods, health and security as well as broader repercussion such as hampering economic, social and political development and the provision of health care. One of the more controversial outcomes of the UN Small Arms conference was the failure of states to explicitly commit to more effective regulation of civilian possession and use of small arms and light weapons (SALW). Despite clear evidence of the opportunities for diversion of SALW from civilian possession to illicit trade and the serious impact of this on human security, opposition from some states to any mention of this issue within the Programme of Action (PoA) prevented the inclusion of language concerning the regulation of privately owned SALW. Nevertheless, the Programme of Action does contain limited provisions including the criminalisation of illicit possession of SALW and a requirement that states ensure responsibility for SALW issued by them. This Policy Briefing elaborates on how these and other international commitments should be interpreted and implemented so as to enhance human security.

國內規章之規範工作在服務貿易總協定第六條第四項即表明須加以進行，且此類貿易障礙確有處理之必要。本論文鑑於規範國內規章之必要性以及談判上之困難，擬探討服務貿易總協定第六條第四項就資格要件、程序、技術標準與核照條件等措施擬定必要規範之可行性。 為減少資格要件與核照要件不必要之貿易障礙，各會員國在就此等要件作規定時，最重要的就是必須將對外國服務供給者或廠商的一切要求予以具體明文化，而這些要求只須確保達到服務品質即可，而不必過於苛刻、意圖阻礙貿易。在國內規章規範中要求會員國去除與服務品質無關且會造成服務供給限制之規定，並可鼓勵會員國間簽定相互承認協定或單方自主給予認許，另外也應鼓勵會員國參考相關國際機構所制定之標準。 在資格程序與核照程序方面，國內規章規範中應要求會員國將資格程序與核照程序事先設立、公開可取得、客觀、去除與服務品質無關且會造成服務供給限制之程序規定，並鼓勵各國主管當局推動簡化的行政程序，減少不必要之人力、物力浪費。 在規範技術標準上，可要求會員參考相關國際組織所發展出來的國際標準，或鼓勵會員間簽定相互承認協定就彼此採用之技術標準予以承認，並要求會員客觀考量其他會員採用的技術標準，若不准許該項標準應提出拒絕理由以避免會員採取之規章措施不合理而造成貿易障礙。此外，在國內規章規範中要求會員公布有關之技術資訊。 有些貿易障礙並不顯見於國內規章上，無法透過查看他會員之法令規定就足以斷定有阻礙貿易之嫌，況且，有時情況國內體制僵化無法立即作出改變，或國家資源與財力有限無法作出變革，而非會員故意藉此來阻撓貿易，這些障礙並無法單靠規範國內規章就可以解決，往往須配合政府體制之革新，以達成去除不必要障礙之目的。故，規範國內規章與政府國內規章革新應是相輔相成的。 由本論文的討論可知規範國內規章基本上是可行的，只是在談判上須兼顧各國面對的困難及國家間的利益衝突，才可很快地制定出國內規章規範，而規範之具體成效的展現，尚須各國政府內部國內規章革新之配合，才能去除不必要之貿易障礙，早日達成服務貿易真正的自由化。