Proposed Model Schedule for future Insurance Commitments

Introduction

This Proposed Model Schedule is a proposed text for the use of Southern Africa in scheduling

commitments.

It does not require a new framework, nor does it require a new annex or a new method of

scheduling commitments.

It is suggested as a desirable text to be used not only when countries schedule new commitments,

but also for countries that have already made commitments as described in each item of the text.

The attached document represents two separate contributions which countries would add to their

commitments in insurance. The first represents commitments to market access and national

treatment. It builds on existing commitments already in the schedules of many countries, but

incorporates certain specific obligations so as to remove any ambiguity as to whether they are

built into the more general obligations assumed in the schedule. For instance, some countries

already have inserted  none  in their insurance commitments for certain modes of supply, such

as that of commercial presence.  The purpose of the attached text is to give greater specificity

and predictability to those commitments that are important to the industry. In addition, it sets

forth obligations clearly not addressed in current schedules, such as the obligation to fully stage a

commitment within a specified timeframe, as well as a standstill to protect acquired rights.

The second part of the contribution could be entitled  Best Practices in Insurance , which take

the form of  additional commitments  under GATS Article XVIII.  It addresses those aspects of

domestic regulation that are not addressed by the market access or national treatment provisions.

They reflect regulatory obligations that exist for both foreign

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 and indigenous suppliers of

services.

In order to make clear the intended effect of this text, the following comments are felt necessary

to ensure completeness in the obligations to be assumed in the area of insurance.

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  Foreign  means  from another country  throughout the Model Schedule and the  Best Practices  annex.

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