US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10383

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 010383 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, WTRO 
SUBJECT: GOC RESPONSE TO WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATION QUESTIONS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 176381 
 
SUMMARY:  On november 2, Post received GOC's response to 
questions raised in reftel.  The Ministry of Commerce 
indicated that it is the lead organization in trade and 
services negotiations.  Colombia presented its revised WTO 
services offer in June of 2005.  Colombia,s sensitive 
services sectors are education, healthcare, media services 
and education. 
 
Question 1. Has the government stated specifically that its 
offer is tied to further movement in agriculture 
negotiations, concessions on temporary entry, rules or other 
factors? 
 
Answer 1. Colombia expects significant advances at the next 
WTO round, specifically at the agricultural table.  The 
Colombian delegation is contributing to proposals that will 
lead to an agreement that will ultimately benefit Colombian 
commercial interests.  Colombia,s position regarding 
services will be a result of the general consensus among 
negotiators, and accordingly advances will be made in 
services and other sectors. 
 
Question 2. Would the government likely be prepared to table 
an initial or revised services offer pending movement in 
these areas, in particular agriculture? 
 
Answer 2. Colombia,s initial offer was delivered on 
September 18, 2003 and is titled TN/S/O/COL. A revised offer 
was presented June 1, 2005 in document TN/S/O/COL. As 
demonstrated in these documents, Colombia has moved forward 
in the area of services despite not having significant 
improvements in the agricultural areas. 
 
Question 3. What ministries, government officials or other 
entities, including the legislature, play a role in decisions 
on services? 
 
Answer 3. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism has 
the primary lead of delegations and trade discussions.  The 
ministry also coordinates intergovernmental participation 
regarding trade issues with a larger pool of contributors. 
Participants include the following: 
Aeronautica Civil - Civil Aviation 
Banco de la Republica - Central Bank 
Comision de Regulacion de Agua Potable y Saneamiento Basico - 
Water and Sanitation Commission 
Comision de Regulacion de Energia y Gas - Energy Commision 
Comision de Regulacion de Telecomunicaciones - 
Telecommunication Comission 
Comision Nacional de Television - National Television 
Commission 
Departamento Nacional de Planeacion - Ministry of Planning 
Direccion General Maritima - Directorate General of Maritime 
Instituto Colombiano de Desarrollo Rural - Colombian 
Institute of Rural Development 
Insituto Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la 
Tecnologia - Colombian Institute of Research in Science and 
Technology 
Minsiterio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural - Ministry of 
Agriculture 
Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo - Ministry of 
Commerce 
Ministerio de Comunicaciones - Ministry of Communications 
Ministerio de Cultura - Ministry of Culture 
Ministerio de Defensa - Ministry of Defense 
Ministerio de Educacion Nacional - Ministry of National 
Education 
Ministerio de Hacienda y Credito Publico - Ministry of Finance 
Ministerio de la Proteccion Social - Ministry of Health 
Ministerio de Minas y Energia - Ministry of Energy 
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores - Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs 
Ministerio de Transporte - Ministry of Transportation 
Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia - Ministry of Interior 
and Justice 
Proexport - Export Assistance Agency 
Superintendencia Bancaria - Superintendent of Banks 
Superintendencia de Puertos y Transporte - Superintendent of 
Ports and Transportation 
Superintendencia de Valores - Superintendent of Exchange (SEC 
equivalent) 
 
Question 4. What players are likely to have the most 
influence in determining the extent of the host government,s 
services offer? 
 
Answer 4. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism is 
the coordinator of all services related negotiations although 
other entities are consulted as necessary.  In this process 
all relevant players are given equal opportunity to represent 
the interests of their sectors.  The private sector also has 
a role in the negotiation discussions.  In Colombia, the 
Coalition of Services represents the majority of services 
sectors, non-affiliated sector associations also participate 
in the open dialogue. On the other hand the private sector 
also participates in many of these negotiations via the 
Coalition of Services, which represents many of the services 
industries. 
 
Question 5. Are there particular domestic constituencies that 
support or oppose services liberalization?  What are they? 
Are they significant? 
 
Answer 5. The debate on services liberalization is analogous 
to trade liberalization; and those companies that are 
threatened by international competition are not supportive 
where companies that see new business opportunities with 
greater globalization are supportive of these trade 
agreements. 
 
Question 6. What is the main reason for their support or 
opposition? 
 
Answer 6. Generally, those sectors that see trade 
liberalization as an opportunity to expand sales abroad 
support trade liberalization, where on the contrary, sectors 
that do not see a benefit are strong critics. 
Question 7. What are the host country,s sensitivities with 
regard to services sector opening? 
 
Answer 7. Education, healthcare, environmental services and 
television production are the most sensitive services 
sectors.  The number and types of sectors that can be 
included in the aforementioned list vary depending on the 
initiatives of the GOC.  Additionally, cross border issues 
such as foreign direct investment and the mobility of human 
capital are critical to any negotiated agreement.  Agreements 
on the sensitive service sectors should be accompanied by 
compromises in the mobility of human capital. 
 
Question 8. Do government officials appreciate that, with the 
approach of the Hong Kong Ministerial and the negotiating 
deadline next year, it is critical that services offers be 
tabled immediately? 
 
Answer 8. As mentioned in the answers to questions one and 
two, Colombia has already presented its revised offer. 
Simultaneously, further work has been done to obtain a 
positive outcome in the WTO negotiations.  Specifically 
regarding services, ideally all of the offers would be on the 
table, however, taking into account the different negotiation 
environments in other countries, the ideal is not possible at 
this time.  Therefore we are conscious of this situation. 
WOOD