PRIORITIES FOR WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS FOR CZECH

UNCLAS PRAGUE 000046 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND EB/TPP/MTA/MST COMMERCE FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/MROGERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD BEXP EZ BMOT WTO SUBJECT: PRIORITIES FOR WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS FOR CZECH REPUBLIC REF: STATE 270998 ¶1. Embassy Prague has reviewed the list of services sectors transmitted reftel. We submit the following rating of sectors in the Czech Republic that offer the highest potential for U.S. services providers. Ratings are from 5 (highest) to 1 (lowest). ¶2. --Legal services 5 --Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services 5 --Taxation services 5 --Architectural services 5 --Engineering and integrated engineering services 5 --Urban planning and landscape architectural services 5 --Computer and related services 5 --Research and development services 5 --Real estate services 5 --Rental/Leasing Services 5 --Advertising services 3 --Market research and public opinion, polling services 5 --Management consulting services 5 --Technical testing and analysis services (including energy related testing services) 3 --Services incidental to agriculture, hunting and forestry, and fishing 2 --Services incidental to mining 2 --Energy services (including land site preparation, drilling and plugging). Services incidental to energy distribution 5 --Placement and supply services of personnel 3 --Investigation and security 5 --Related scientific and technical consulting services 3 --Maintenance and repair of equipment 2 --Building-cleaning services 2 --Photographic services 2 --Packaging services 3 --Printing, publishing 3 --Convention services 5 --Courier services (Express Delivery) 2 --Telecommunication services 4 --Audiovisual services 3 --Construction and related engineering 5 --Distribution Services, including: commission agents' services, wholesale trade services, retailing services, and franchising 4 --Educational Services, including: higher education services, adult education (i.e., vocational), other education services (i.e., testing and computer or language training) 5 --Environmental services (wastewater treatment, sanitation, protection of ambient air and climate, remediation and clean up, noise and vibration abatement, and biodiversity protection) 5 --Insurance services 5 --Banking and other financial services including securities 5 (Social Security funds are solely managed by the state. Voluntary retirement insurance funds are permitted and some opportunities for management exist. Proposals for changes to the system that might add private retirement accounts to the government insurance scheme are being considered, but are unlikely to be passed under the current government.) --Tourism and travel-related services, including: hotels and restaurants, catering, travel agencies and tour operators services, and tourist guides services 3 --Recreation and sporting services (other than audiovisual services),including: entertainment services (including theatre, live bands and circus services),news agency services; libraries, archives, museums and other cultural services; sporting and other recreational services. 4 ¶3. The level of openness of all sectors of the Czech economy for foreign service providers is generally high. Certain educational, certification and licensing requirements apply for providers of professional services. Membership in a professional organizations, such as the bar association, may also be required. HILLAS