Negotiations started in 1995 and are continuing on the development of possible disciplines that are not yet included in GATS - disciplines on domestic regulations (Article 4.4), rules on emergency safeguard measures (Article 10), government procurement (Article 13) and subsidies (Article 15).
Developing countries concerns in regard to market access negotiations revolve around the following:
- Establishing an emergency safeguard mechanism to allow developing countries' services enterprises time to adjust to increased imports of services;
- Establishing disciplines on trade-distortive subsidies that are granted by developed countries; and
- Taking action to ensure that regulations of developed countries do not serve as protectionist barriers to exports of developing countries, whilst safeguarding maximum flexibility for domestic regulatory practices in developing countries, including by not developing international disciplines setting out a-priori transparency requirements for domestic regulations.
- Preserving the right to regulate, as well as protecting the policy space of developing countries.