Non-Discrimination in International Trade in Services: ‘Likeness' in WTO/GATS

Nicolas F. Diebold

oct 2010 · Cambridge International Trade and Economic Law Libro 4 · Cambridge University Press

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The principle of non-discrimination is fundamental to the regulation of international trade in goods and services. In the context of trade in goods, the concept of 'like products' has become a key element of the legal analysis of whether a trade obstacle violates GATT non-discrimination obligations. The equivalent concept of 'like services and service suppliers' in GATS rules on non-discrimination has received little attention in WTO jurisprudence. In light of the remaining uncertainties, Nicolas Diebold analyses the legal problems of the GATS 'like services and services suppliers' concept using a contextual and comparative methodology. The 'likeness' element is not analysed in isolation, but in context with 'less favourable treatment' and regulatory purpose as additional elements of non-discrimination. The book also explores how far theories from non-discrimination rules in GATT, NAFTA, BITs and EC as well as market definition theories from competition law may be applied to 'likeness' in GATS.

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Nicolas F. Diebold is Professor of Public and Economic Law at the University of Lucerne. He studied law at the Universities of Geneva and Zurich and he received an LL.M. degree from Duke Law School. Following his admissions to the bar in New York and Switzerland, Nicolas graduated with a PhD in Law from the University of Berne. He was a visiting scholar at Stanford Law School in 2008 and at Edinburgh Law School in 2014. Prior to this appointment as professor, Nicolas was head of internal market affairs at the Swiss Competition Commission in Berne.