US embassy cable - 05VIENNA74

UNCLAS VIENNA 000074 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, AU, WTO 
SUBJECT: WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: PRIORITIES FOR U.S. 
SERVICE SUPPLIERS IN AUSTRIA 
 
REF: 04 SECSTATE 270998 
 
1.  Per reftel request, following is a ranking of service 
sectors in terms of market access priorities (1 is top 
priority) for U.S. service providers in Austria, as well as 
post's assessment of the current level of market openness 
for each sector (high, medium, low): 
 
Sectors with rank of 1 
---------------------- 
--Computer and related services (high) 
--Telecommunication (and Internet) services (medium) 
 
Sectors with rank of 2 
---------------------- 
--Distribution services, particularly franchising (high) 
--Advertising services (high) 
--Management consulting services (high) 
--Banking and other financial services (high) 
--Courier services (express delivery) (medium) 
--Research and development services (medium) 
--Educational services (medium) 
 
Sectors with rank of 3 
---------------------- 
--Tourism and travel-related services (high) 
--Related scientific and technical consulting services 
(high) 
--Market research and public opinion (high) 
--Convention services (high) 
--Recreation and sporting services (high) 
--Insurance services (high) 
--Photographic services (high) 
--Legal services (medium) 
--Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services (medium) 
--Rental/Leasing services (medium) 
--Audiovisual services (medium) 
 
Sectors with rank of 4 
---------------------- 
--Technical testing and analysis services (high) 
--Construction and related engineering (medium) 
--Environmental services (medium) 
--Placement and supply services of personnel (medium) 
--Engineering and integrated engineering services (medium) 
--Architectural services (low) 
--Urban planning and landscape architectural services (low) 
--Energy services (low) 
 
Sectors with rank of 5 
---------------------- 
--Services incidental to mining (high) 
--Related scientific and technical consulting services 
(high) 
--Maintenance and repair of equipment (high) 
--Packaging services (high) 
--Taxation services (medium) 
--Investigation and security (medium) 
--Building-cleaning services (medium) 
--Printing, publishing (medium) 
--Real estate services (medium) 
--Services incidental to agriculture, hunting and forestry, 
and fishing (medium) 
 
2.  In principle, Austrian laws make no distinction between 
Austrian and foreign firms with regard to access for 
services.  However, some minor non-tariff barriers exist, 
particularly in the telecom, and legal and accounting 
services sectors.  Regarding private sector management of 
social security funds, private companies have no access to 
the basic mandatory social insurance funds in Austria 
(public pension, health, accident, and unemployment funds). 
Private companies can, however, compete in the sectors of 
supplementary insurance and private pension funds. 
 
BROWN