Balancing domestic regulation and trade liberalisation under the World Trade Organisational's multilateral rules on trade in services: a look at South Africa's telecommunications sector

Abstract

The aim of this work is to analyse the current provisions on domestic regulation contained in the GATS, as well as to examine the negotiations on future disciplines currently being worked on by WTO members. In particular it aims to see what impact these rules will have on the licensing of telecoms services. In addition the study seeks to investigate whether, on a proper analysis and understanding of the legal texts on domestic regulation, the claims made by some civil society organisations and NGOs are valid.