Translating Services Domestic Regulation Initiatives Into Practice: Benefits and Experiences Implementing Services Domestic Regulation Disciplines

This brief explores implementation experiences in APEC economies related to the principles and rules contained in the APEC NBPs and the WTO JSI. First, the brief introduces readers to the common elements shared by the APEC NBPs and the WTO JSI, highlighting how economies’ services domestic regulation reform and implementation efforts often work towards or satisfy the disciplines of both initiatives. Next, the brief moves on to an analysis of implementation challenges and actions by governmental agencies related to services domestic regulation in five APEC economies—Thailand, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, Papua New Guinea, and Chile—based on the experiences shared during a series of consultations and information gathering exercises conducted in 2022. Finally, the brief presents conclusions and recommendations reflecting the common underlying theme emerging from the analysis of these cases: the importance of comprehensive transparency frameworks encompassing the entire rulemaking process from design to implementation and review.