WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: REQUEST FOR COMMENTS

UNCLAS PRETORIA 000164 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EB/TP/MTA/MST AWHITTEN DEPT PASS USTR FOR CHOOKER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD SF SUBJECT: WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON U.S. MARKET ACCESS PRIORITIES REF: 04 STATE 270998 ¶1. This cable responds to reftel with post's assessment of priority sectors for U.S. service suppliers in South Africa using reftel's methodology of priority (1-5) and informal ranking (high, medium, or low) of current level of market openness. --Legal services (2) medium --Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services (1) high --Taxation services (1) high --Architectural services (2) medium --Engineering and integrated engineering services (1) low --Urban planning and landscape architectural services (4) low --Computer and related services (1) high --Research and development services (4) medium --Real estate services (3) low --Rental/Leasing Services (4) low --Advertising services (1) low --Market research and public opinion, polling services (2) medium --Management consulting services (1) high --Technical testing and analysis services (including energy related testing services)(1) medium --Services incidental to agriculture, hunting and forestry, and fishing (3) low --Services incidental to mining (1) high --Energy services (including land site preparation, drilling and plugging)(1) high --Services incidental to energy distribution (1) medium --Placement and supply services of personnel (2) medium --Investigation and security (2) medium --Related scientific and technical consulting services (2) medium --Maintenance and repair of equipment (3) medium --Building-cleaning services (3) low --Photographic services (3) medium --Packaging services (3) medium --Printing, publishing (1) medium --Convention services (2) medium --Courier services (Express Delivery)(1) high --Telecommunication services (1) medium --Audiovisual services (1) medium --Construction and related engineering (2) medium --Distribution Services, including: commission agents' services, wholesale trade services, retailing services, and franchising (2) medium --Educational Services, including: higher education services, adult education (i.e., vocational),other education services (i.e., testing and computer or language training)(3) low --Environmental services (wastewater treatment, sanitation, protection of ambient air and climate, remediation and clean up, noise and vibration abatement, and biodiversity protection) (2) medium --Insurance services (1) medium --Banking and other financial services including securities (we would appreciate any information regarding whether particular country allows private sector management of its social security funds and what opportunities exist to compete in that market) (1) medium --Tourism and travel-related services, including: hotels and restaurants, catering, travel agencies and tour operators services, and tourist guides services (1) medium -- Recreations 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. (2) medium MILOVANOVIC