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International Trade in Commercial Launch Services: Adopting the World Trade Organization General Agreement on Trade in Services (WTO/GATS)

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The Space Transportation Market: Evolution or Revolution?

Part of the book series: Space Studies ((SPSS,volume 5))

Abstract

Commercial launch services, once the exclusive domain of rocket manufacturers using government launch facilities, have evolved into an international business. This paper addresses the conflict between national security concerns and the stimulation of trade in commercial launch services which constitute the result of utilizing a dual-use technology, resting on the same industrial base as military applications and subject to non-bincung international accords on export control.

Despite fora through which governments discuss export control issues such as the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Wassenaar Arrangement, there remains great diversity in the constitutional mechanisms, legal systems, systems for administration, industrial framework, foreign policies and economic goals in different countries. The object of this paper is to examine current international guidelines, vis-à- vis selected national export control policies, influencing the cross-border provision of launch services, in the context of the WTO/GATS, with a view to recommending a regime that will foster true internationalization of the commercial launch market.

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References

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Brisibe, T.C. (2000). International Trade in Commercial Launch Services: Adopting the World Trade Organization General Agreement on Trade in Services (WTO/GATS). In: Rycroft, M. (eds) The Space Transportation Market: Evolution or Revolution?. Space Studies, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0894-5_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0894-5_32

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-3810-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-0894-5

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