Energy and the TRIMs and GATS agreements

The international energy sector has always involved a wide range of activities, with energy mineral extraction residing at its core. Technological advancements and job specialisation have resulted in segmentation within the industry as traditionally conceived. With sensitivity to the relationship between energy use and climate change, the growth of interest in renewable energy sources have further contributed to segmentation within the industry. Thus, when writ large, the international energy sector has become increasingly subject to certain WTO rules governing trade-related investment measures and generally agreed rules governing trade in services, Central obligations found in these rules are examined in this commentary and analysed in the context of three hypothetical situations, all with an eye towards an increasing understanding of what relevant countries hosting efforts by the international energy sector may and may not do to affect the sector.