Bilateral or multilateral free trade agreements between countries are formed majorly based on the WTO agreement system. In particular, GATS as an Agreement under the WTO system, is the first and only set of multilateral rules governing international trade in services. Ways or modes of trading services are basic provisions of GATS, including: Cross-border supply (mode 1), Consumption abroad (mode 2), Commercial presence (mode 3), Presence of natural person (mode 4). The categorization of modes covering its own regulations depends on the territorial presence of the supplier and the consumer at the time of the transaction.
According to GATS, cross -border supply means supply of a service from the territory of one Member into the territory of any other member, and supplier and consumer of a member do not present within the territory of another member. Consumption abroad means supply of a service in the territory of one Member to the service consumer of any other member. Presence of a natural person means supply of a service by a service supplier of one member, through presence of natural persons of a member in the territory of any other member. It should be noted that cross-border supply of services is defined depending on each Agreement. Under CPTPP, cross-border supply includes modes 1, 2 and 4 above. In this article, cross-border supply is equivalent to mode 1, under GATS.
When participating in GATS, members make commitments for market access with respect to each mode of service supply and sub-sector. The GATS provides a set of general principles that all WTO members must adhere to, which there are no unnecessary barriers applied to trade. However, GATS expressly recognizes the rights of member governments to manage and regulate the supply of services in pursuit of their own policy objectives. GATS also does not interfere in internal affairs and policies of members. Therefore, the governments absolutely have the right to decide and adopt their trade policies. The enterprise of a member must comply with domestic regulations in the territory of another member where they conduct business and trade in services and refer to that Member’s Schedule of Specific Commitments to understand market access obligations and national treatment.
Most sub-sectors do not restrict market access and national treatment for foreign suppliers providing cross-border services in Vietnam (legal, accounting, auditing, tax, architecture, advertising, management consulting, …). Although the market access is not restricted, it does not mean that the foreign suppliers freely provide services in Vietnam without satisfaction of conditions or without the consent of the competent state authorities. To consider this matter and have a correct understanding, the national treatment principle should be reviewed, it requires that each member shall accord to services and service suppliers of any other member the treatment no less favourable than that it accords to its own like services and service suppliers. Having said that, in the event that a member maintains business conditions for the domestic services and service suppliers, these conditions may also apply to the foreign services and service suppliers.
Such as accounting service business, foreign service suppliers are not restricted in market access and national treatment under the Schedule of Specific Commitments in Services. It means that a foreign accounting firm can provide accounting services to a Vietnamese enterprise. However, accounting service is a conditional business applicable to domestic firms. According to the national treatment principle, Vietnam has the right to impose similar conditions on foreign suppliers. Reference to the provisions of Vietnamese laws, the foreign accounting firm must fully meet the conditions of head office and personnel to be licensed its business in Vietnam. Further, there are tax liabilities arisen which obligations of registration and declaration depend on particulars of transactions. It is suggested that international trade lawyers are consulted to avoid potential disputes or non-compliance of cross-border supply of services.