CRITIQUE

OECD Trade Policy Papers No. 185, water in the GATS Methodology and Results by

Miroudut, S. and K. Pertel (2015). The article talks about the Water in the GATS wherein it is

the difference between the bound level of trade restrictiveness permitted by the GATS and the

actual trade regime, the water is measured through the OECD STRI. Authors discussed with

different sectors that are high or low in water, they also elaborated clearly the countries which

are bound committed and unbound committed. (The study is relevant) In addition, knowing the

commitments of each country to different sectors of services and distinguishing whether they are

high or low watered is relevant for us students to be more knowledgeable in this issue of water in

the GATS and be concerned about its importance to one’s country. The water in the GATS offer

each countries a more helpful way to know what sectors should be more emphasizes and opens

way to be more liberal country with no commitments.

Highlights:

 Countries that have lesser commitment have the highest level of water, and in contrast,

high commitment countries have low level of water.

 The level of water in GATS commitments varies in different sectors.

 Mode 4 in the mode of supplies plays an important role especially in the case of

professional services.

 Most water in the GATS came from unbound sectors,