Tjänstdelning

Tjänstdelning, often translated as service sharing or service trade, refers to the cross-border provision of services. It encompasses a wide range of economic activities where a service provider in one country delivers a service to a consumer in another country. This can occur through various modes, as defined by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

The four main modes of service delning are: cross-border supply, consumption abroad, commercial presence, and presence of natural persons. Cross-border supply involves services being delivered from the territory of one member to the territory of another, such as a consultant in Sweden providing advice via video conference to a client in Germany. Consumption abroad occurs when a consumer or enterprise buys a service in the territory of another member, like a tourist from Finland visiting a hotel in Spain. Commercial presence means a service supplier of one member establishing or operating a subsidiary or branch in another member to provide services, exemplified by a Japanese bank opening a branch in France. Finally, the presence of natural persons involves individuals of one member entering the territory of another to supply a service, such as an Italian architect working on a project in the United States.

Tjänstdelning is a significant component of international trade, contributing to economic growth and efficiency. It allows countries to specialize in sectors where they have a comparative advantage, leading to lower prices and greater choice for consumers. International agreements, such as trade treaties and bilateral service agreements, play a crucial role in facilitating and regulating this type of trade by reducing barriers and promoting market access.