Slide 1 : Anthony Alverno, Chairman, UPU Council of Administration Project Team on WTO Relations
Presentation to the World Roundtable on Terminal Dues
Berne, Switzerland 2 February 2004 TARGET, TRANSITION & TRADE RULES: ANALYZING THE CONVERGENCE PROPOSAL UNDER THE MFN LENS
Outline : Outline Background
Identifying Issues
Legal Issues
Convergence
Options
Background - WTO : Background - WTO WTO
Multilateral Organization
Uruguay Round
Consensus
Agreements
General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade
General Agreement on Trade in Services
Dispute Settlement Understanding
Background - GATS : Background - GATS
Background - MFN : Background - MFN Most Favored Nation (MFN)
Nondiscrimination
Preferences to any country
Exemptions
10 years in principle
No new exemptions
Waivers
Economic Integration Agreements A B C WTO
Member
Country Foreign Service Suppliers
Identifying Issues : Identifying Issues Terminal Dues
UPU Convention
Country of Origin Determinative
Industrialized Network Access
Developing Network Access
Illustrations : Illustrations Country A Industrialized Country B
Developing Country C
Industrialized 3.427 SDR per kg Per item + per kg rates
(60% domestic tariffs) 20 g = 10 ¢ 20 g = 25 ¢ - 36 ¢ Lightweight item
Legal Issues : Legal Issues Issues to Consider
Does the Governmental Services Exception Apply?
Does GATS Prevail?
Are Terminal Dues “Measures”?
Does Article VIII Apply?
Are There Exceptions for DCs/LDCs?
Convergence Proposal : Convergence Proposal Convergence
Target System
Transitional System
Improvements :
Nomenclature
Lower threshold on cost-based per item, per kg rates
Challenges:
Differential Access
End Date
Slow Progression
Options : Options Possible Solutions
Move Towards GATS-Compatible System
Resolve Inconsistencies
MFN Exemption
Official Interpretation of Article I:3
Subsidies
Dispute Settlement Understanding
Moratorium on Dispute Settlement
Resources : Resources UPU CA WTO Relations Project Team
http://www.upu.int/relations_with_wto/en/index.html
Links to:
Presentations
Research Papers
Background Notes
Conclusion : Conclusion Questions / Comments