Report of the Regional Seminar on Liberalization of Maritime Transport Services under WTO GATS

The liberalization of maritime transport services and how the World Trade Organization (WTO) contributes to the issue is the focus of this report. It examines ESCAP activities in the transport sector and initiatives in trade policy. It provides information on the maritime transport industry and liberalization policies in Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, and Viet Nam. The development dimension of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and liberalization under GATS are presented. The WTO principles and processes are examined in the context of global maritime environment and maritime policy development and reform. Consultative process amongst ESCAP member countries and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development position on liberalization of maritime transport services are explained.