Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services

Annex I. 
Movement of natural persons supplying services under GATS
1.  Chapter II of the present Manual discusses, among 
other things, the ways in which modes of supply may 
be measured statistically. Table 1 shows, for each mode 
of supply, the existing statistical coverage through 
BPM5 and FATS statistics. For mode 4, presence of 
natural persons, partial coverage is provided through 
BPM5 trade in services (and hence through the 
statistics described in chap. III). Some further 
information on employment may be available through 
supplementary FATS statistics (described in chap. IV) 
and through information on labour-related flows in 
BPM5. These topics are discussed in chapter II. 
However, these sources do not provide complete 
coverage of mode 4, particularly in the area of 
employment, nor can the mode 4 related components 
be separately identified.  
2.  Ideally, statistics on mode 4, delivery of services, 
will be compiled at a level of detail that is compatible 
with the GATS sectoral classification of services. The 
present annex thus aims to: 
(a)  Present a detailed definition of mode 4 in the 
GATS framework;  
(b)  Identify the specific information necessary for 
discussing mode 4 in the GATS context; 
(c) Set out the ways in which some of this 
information may be eventually derived from established 
statistical systems. 
Finally, some examples are presented on how the 
presence of natural persons has been addressed in GATS 
negotiations. 
3. The Manual has noted the difficulties in 
measuring the value of trade related to mode 4. Thus, 
the present annex explores the statistics that might be 
relevant for assessing mode 4 for the purposes of 
trade negotiations and policy-making, including 
statistics that will provide only indirect or 
supplementary information. It builds on the premise 
that trade in services through mode 4 as it is defined 
in GATS often takes place through employment and 
under conditions detailed in the national 
commitments.