2. Types of producers 4.25. Because FATS as used in the present Manual stands for foreign affiliates trade in services, it might be
expected that FATS statistics should cover producers of
services only. However, the Manual recommends that
producers of goods be covered as well. Some firms
produce both goods and services, and it is only by
coverage of all producers that the activities of producers
for which provision of services is a secondary activity
would be reflected in the statistics. In addition, coverage
of all producers allows for the activities of services
producers to be examined in the context of statistics
covering all firms. As explained in paragraph 4.39
below, the method for attributing and presenting FATS
variables by activity and, to the extent possible, selected
64
For a detailed discussion of the SPE concept and for
additional examples, see BD3, annex 3.
65
For information on the concept of indirect ownership,
ownership chains and company structure generally as they
relate to direct investment, see paras. 12–19 of BD3 and paras.
685–692 of the IMF Balance of Payments Compilation Guide.
60
ones by product, rather than the limitation of the universe
of producers to service producers alone, is the mechanism
recommended for isolating services from goods.
