Is there scope for operating Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) in GATS?
GATS is very much viewed as an Agreement that offers preferential treatment to developing countries. All this can be seen from the preamble of the Agreement, Articles IV, V:3 and XIX, to mention a few. As such, from a strictly legal and even negotiations viewpoint, there is unlimited scope for greater preferential treatment of developing countries. Article IV has strong provisions on special treatment for developing countries aimed at increasing their participation in international trade in services. Some of the provisions in this Article are the subject of negotiation, as, for instance, Article IV:3, which obligates developed countries to give special priority to LDCs in implementing requirements for improving market access through sectors and modes of export interest, strengthening domestic services capacity, access to distribution channels, and others. One way being proposed is to introduce an understanding on Article IV:3 that allows members to secure certain markets for LDCs, or g
