Negotiating Documents the U.S Has Already Filed Regarding Legal Services
The U.S. has filed several different documents in the ongoing negotiations. These include the initial proposal by the U.S. in December 2000 and the U.S. "requests" and "offers." In its "initial requests," the U.S. asked other countries for liberalization of their rules regarding "outbound" U.S. lawyers. In its offer, the U.S. indicated what it would provide to foreign lawyers "inbound" to the U.S.
CURRENT U.S. POSITIONS
-
The "Legal Services" Portion of the U.S. "Offer" (May 31, 2005)
As provided in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the U.S. submitted its offer on legal services on May 31, 2005. The U.S. proposed changes in the legal services portion of its Schedule of Specific Commitments.
-
The "Horizontal Commitments" Portion of the U.S. "Offer" (May 31, 2005)
"Horizontal commitments" apply to all sectors, including legal services. The U.S. has not yet proposed any changes to the horizontal commitments portion of its Schedule of Specific Commitments.
-
An Unclassified Summary of the Legal Services "Requests" Filed by the U.S. (June 30, 2002)
The U.S. "requests" to other countries concerning legal services are considered a confidential government-to-government document. The U.S. Trade Representative has prepared the attached unclassified summary. The U.S. "request" refers to a "reference paper." If WTO Member States agreed with the provisions of such a "reference paper," they could indicate this in the "Additional Commitments" column of their Schedules of Specific Commitments.
POSITIONS PREVIOUSLY FILED BY U.S.
-
The "Legal Services" Portion of the U.S. Initial "Offer" (March 31, 2003)
As provided in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the U.S. submitted its initial offer on legal services on March 31, 2003. The U.S. has not yet proposed any changes in the legal services portion of its Schedule of Specific Commitments.
-
The "Horizontal Commitments" Portion of the U.S. Initial "Offer" (March 31, 2003)
"Horizontal commitments" apply to all sectors, including legal services. The U.S. has not yet proposed any changes to the horizontal commitments portion of its Schedule of Specific Commitments.
-
The December 2000 U.S. Legal Services Negotiation Proposal
The U.S. submitted a short description of its position on legal services in December 2000. This submission was pursuant to the "built-in agenda" negotiations required by GATS Article XIX. In the Doha Ministerial Declaration, WTO Member States agreed upon additional deadlines and procedures for the ongoing negotiations. Therefore, this December 2000 negotiation proposal has been supplemented by the U.S. "initial request" and "initial offer" reproduced below.