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The theme of the 2012 Global Forum on Trade is trade and trade policy in services.

Services account for a rising share of GDP in developed as well as developing economies and almost all net job creation in middle-and high-income countries come from services. Trade liberalisation, developments in passenger transport (air, high-speed train) and telecommunications technology have enabled internationalisation of services sectors through cross-border trade, establishment of commercial presence abroad and the provision of services through movement of services providers. 

Services are part and parcel of global value chains where design and product development create value during the pre-production stage of final goods and services; and transport, logistics, telecommunications, finance and a host of business services grease the wheels of international commerce. Finally, marketing and distribution collect information about the consumer that in turn is used by product designers, creating a feed-back loop that is crucial for customising products to consumer needs and preferences.

The Global Forum will discuss trade policy implications of the changing market conditions facing service providers, with the view of unleashing the growth potential that more open services markets entail.