Kazakhstan Moves to Adopt WTO Rules on Domestic Regulation of Services

Kazakhstan’s Kurultai has approved at first reading a bill providing for the country’s adoption of World Trade Organization rules on the domestic regulation of services.

The legislation proposes ratifying amendments to Kazakhstan’s schedule of specific commitments on services, which forms part of the protocol on the country’s accession to the WTO.

The new rules cover licensing, qualification requirements and standards in the services sector. They are intended to make regulation more transparent and predictable, while simplifying administrative procedures for both domestic and foreign service providers.

Adopting the rules is expected to increase transparency in requirements for businesses and make Kazakhstan’s services market more attractive to foreign investors.

Kazakhstan joined the WTO in 2015. The rules on domestic regulation of services were developed by a group of WTO members with Kazakhstan’s participation. Negotiations were concluded in Geneva on December 2, 2021.

According to data presented to the Kurultai, 72 countries have already adopted the rules.