Dear Stakeholder
 
As many of you are aware, Australia is leading, with the United States (US) and European Union (EU), negotiations in Geneva on a plurilateral Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA).  Our objective is to negotiate a high-quality and comprehensive agreement, which is compatible with the World Trade Organization General Agreement on Trade in Services, attracts broad participation, and supports the multilateral trading system.
 
Formal TiSA negotiations commenced in early 2013.  Negotiations currently include 23 parties representing 50 WTO Members – Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the EU (representing its 28 member states),  Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and the US – which collectively account for around 70 per cent of global trade in services.  There is strong momentum in the negotiations and to date 21 (of the 23) TiSA parties have tabled their market access offers.  Formal market access negotiations commenced at the February 2014 negotiating round.
 
As part of the Australian Government’s ongoing public consultation process we are planning to hold a public consultation in Perth. Details are as follows:
 
Thursday 29 May 
1.00 - 2.45pm
Western Australia State Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
8th floor conference room, Exchange Plaza, Sherwood Court (off St Georges Terrace)
RSVP to: dfat.wa@dfat.gov.au
 
Please RSVP by Wednesday 28 May. We ask that RSVPs include your name, position, organisation, preferred contact details, and any specific areas of interest.
 
To assist with planning for future consultations, we welcome advice from stakeholders on whether you would prefer to receive invitations to specific state and territory consultations only.  Please emailservices.negotiations@dfat.gov.au to provide us with an update of your preferences.
 
We continue to welcome submissions on the TiSA and encourage you to help us develop Australia’s market access requests by providing submissions outlining specific barriers faced by Australian service suppliers in TISA markets.  Submissions can be lodged electronically at services.negotiations@dfat.gov.au.  
 
For more information on the TiSA, including details of previous negotiating rounds and the submissions received from stakeholders to date, please visit our website: www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/services/trade-in-services-agreement.html 
 
Services Trade and Negotiations Section 
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
R.G. Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
BARTON   ACT   0221
AUSTRALIA
Email: services.negotiations@dfat.gov.au