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India’s opportunities and constraints to trade in energy services within the GATS framework are examined. The study found that India has the capability of exporting high-skilled manpower at competitive prices but is facing various market access, discriminatory and regulatory barriers in markets of export interest. [WP No. 231].
Citations
There is a widely considered view that trade in energy and energy products is not adequately governed by the multilateral trade rules administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO). This view is reinforced by the fact the traditional market access restrictions are less of a problem in the energy sector as countries tend to focus on retaining control and sovereignty over energy resources. A mapping of linkages between the WTO rules and trade in the energy sector has highlighted the inadequacy of international trade rules in a number of areas such as export duties and export restrictions, energy transit, renewable energy sector, government support including dual pricing policies, classification of energy services, and lack of flexibility in differentiating goods based on carbon intensity or other such characteristics. Again, when the energy-related trade measures violate WTO rules, the various exceptions and exemptions under the WTO covered agreements also play a central role. Although the growing body of WTO jurisprudence has addressed the inherent inadequacies of the rules in meeting the challenges of energy security, there are several areas where significant improvements in existing provisions and separate or new disciplines may be necessary. This chapter while examining the interaction between WTO rules and energy security also seeks to identify the specific issues in the Chairman's texts in different areas of Doha Round negotiations, which have a direct bearing on trade in energy products. © 2014 Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), IIFT, New Delhi. All rights are reserved.
India’s service sector has grown rapidly since the 1990s. Domestic demand for services has increased as incomes have risen, triggering the expansion of industries such as banking, education, and telecommunications. Exports have also increased rapidly, led by information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO). India’s ability to offer low-cost, high-quality IT-BPO services has made it a world leader in this industry. However, employment in services has not grown as quickly as output. The majority of India’s jobseekers are low-skilled, but demand for workers is growing fastest in higher-skill industries. The supply of highly-skilled workers has not kept pace with demand, causing wages to increase faster for these workers than for lower-skilled ones. India’s government has supported the growth of service industries through a mix of deregulation, liberalization, and incentive programs, such as the Software Technology Parks of India. Nevertheless, burdensome regulations, poor infrastructure, and foreign investment restrictions continue to affect service firms’ ability to do business. USITC analysis suggests that additional liberalization would lead to an increase in India’s imports of services.
