The Protocol on Trade in Services provides for successive rounds of negotiation on liberalisation commitment. The first round of negotiation started in April 2012 covers six priority sectors (communication services, construction services, energy-related services, financial services, tourism services and transport services).In addition, Article 26 of the Protocol provides for development of any necessary Annexes that will facilitate its implementation and in this regard Member States agreed to negotiate sectoral annexes that will promote pro-competitive regulation of the respective sectors.
The 30th CMT meeting held on 23rd July 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa, adopted Member States' final offers in communication, financial, tourism and transport service. The adopted offers i.e. Lists of Commitments are complemented by three cross-cutting Annexes i.e. Movement of Natural persons - Mode 4, Substantial Business Operations and Subsidies; and three sectoral Annexes on Financial, Telecommunication and Tourism Services. On 14th June 2019 at the 31st meeting held in Windhoek, Namibia, the CMT adopted of Member States' List of Commitments in Construction and Energy-related Service; and the Annex on Postal and Courier Services which provides for key pro- competitive regulatory principles for this sub-sector. Marking the end of the First Round, the CMT directed the Secretariat and Member States to embark on preparatory phase towards the second Round of Negotiations, prioritizing business and distribution services. The preparatory program include preparation of Negotiating Guidelines for the Second Round as required by article of the Protocol on Trade in Services, and commissioning of studies for the remaining services sectors namely business services; distribution services; educational services; environmental services; health and related services; and recreational, cultural and sporting services. Also, regional and national stakeholder consultative meetings/workshops are expected to be held through out the process. It is expected that the second round is ongoing after the adoption of the Negotiating Guidelines.
The Secretariat is organizing the 44th TNF-Services meeting which will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 27-29th April 2023. The meeting will be preceded by a regional workshop on developing SADC MRAs for professional services from 24 to 25 April 2023 and the third meeting of the Sector Focus Group (SFG)-Business Services meeting starting from 26-27th April 2023. Below is a list of the documents for the meetings in the three official languages. To download and print in your language of choice, click EN for English, FR - French and PT - Portuguese.
1st meeting of Sector Focus Group (SFG)-Distribution Services 6-7 November 2023
3. Study on Distribution Services: draft report EN FR PT
4th Meeting of the Sector Focus Group (SFG)-Business Services 8 November 2023
2. Draft Guideline for developing SADC MRAs for professional services EN FR PT
3. Report of the 2nd Dedicated Session on Development of SADC MRAs EN FR PT
4. Report of the 1st Dedicated Session on Development of SADC MRAs EN FR PT
5. Report of the 3rd meeting of the SFG-Business Services EN FR PT
6. Questionnaire for professional associations EN FR PT
7. Background paper on SADC MRAs EN FR PT
46th TNF-Services Meeting 9 November 2023
3. Draft Annotated Agenda EN FR PT
4. Study on environmental services - draft report EN
5. Angola's Initial Offer in the six priority sectors EN FR PT
6. Guidance on preparation of second round offers (PPT slides) EN FR PT
7.Services Classification list - CPC Prov and CPC 2.1 comparison table EN FR PT
8. Sectoral Model Schedules for second round negotiations:
b) Distribution services EN FR PT
c) Educational services EN FR PT
d) Environmental services EN FR PT
e)Health and related social services EN FR PT
f) Recreational, cultural and sporting services EN FR PT
9. Roadmap -Second Round of SADC TIS Negotiations EN FR PT
10. SADC Negotiating Guidelines for the 2nd Round EN FR PT
11. Report of 45th TNF-Services Meeting EN FR PT