Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services

D.  Approach and framework of the Manual 
2.45.  To address the needs identified in paragraphs 
2.3.-2.24 above, two basic principles underlie the 
Manual’s approach: 
                                                 
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 Paris, 
1996. 
32.
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(a)   consistency with international standards related 
to trade in services, extending them where necessary and 
feasible; 
(b) phased implementation. 
These principles facilitate the introduction and 
progressive implementation of a set of distinct elements 
in a flexible way to meet each country’s priorities, at the 
same time progressively improving inter-country 
comparability. Throughout its coverage of international 
services transactions, links are provided between the 
Manual and relevant international standards. 
 
2.46. The 
Manual’s framework has two main building 
blocks for describing transactions in international trade 
in services. These are transactions between residents and 
non-residents (based on BPM5) and trade in services 
through the operations of foreign affiliates (the newly 
developed FATS statistical system). It is described here 
in four parts: BPM5 services and related transactions, 
BPM5 extensions, FATS statistics and a simplified 
statistical approach to the treatment of modes of supply. 
The four components are presented in paragraphs 2.51-
2.101 below. 
2.47. The  Manual’s statistical framework with 
regard to resident/non-resident transactions is based 
on BPM5, which contains, among other things, 
recommendations for the definition, valuation, 
classification and recording of resident/non-resident 
trade in services. BPM5 is a primary source of 
statistical guidance on international trade in services, 
international investment transactions and economic 
flows associated with the movement of workers. 
Extensions to BPM5 are developed in the Manual to 
provide for a more detailed treatment of service 
transactions between residents and non-residents by 
product category and by partner countries. The 
Manual does not set out to change the BPM5 broad 
service components but it does call for more detail so 
as to identify services that feature significantly in 
international trade in their own right.  Examples of 
this more detailed treatment are in the areas of 
transport, communications, computer and information 
services, business and professional services, and 
personal services. 
2.48. In addition to trade in services between 
residents and non-residents, services may be supplied 
through foreign affiliates in host countries. The FATS 
statistical system, which draws to a great extent on the 
concepts and definitions contained in the 1993 SNA, 
has been designed to provide information on the 
activity of foreign affiliates that is out of the scope of 
BPM5. The Manual’s framework is based on FATS 
statistics as a complement to, and in parallel with, 
BPM5. 
2.49. The Manual proposes a simplified statistical 
approach that may be used as a starting point in 
allocating BPM5 and FATS service transactions to the 
GATS modes of supply. This approach draws on the 
correspondence between commercial presence and 
FATS, as well as between the other modes of supply and 
transactions between residents and non-residents, as 
captured in BPM5. It also includes systematic criteria for 
the allocation of modes of supply and simplifying 
methods and guidelines for the treatment of complex 
transactions. Because delivery of services through mode 
4 can be measured only in part through the BPM5 and 
FATS systems, the Manual also outlines the issues 
arising in a more comprehensive measurement of 
services provided through mode 4. 
2.50.  The descriptions of BPM5, its extensions, FATS 
statistics and issues surrounding mode 4 statistics are 
discussed only briefly in the present chapter because 
fuller descriptions are provided in chapters III and IV 
below and annex I.