This paper explores the historical formation and evolution of international legal regulation concerning trade in services, culminating in the establishment of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Starting with the administrative frameworks of the 19th-century organizations and moving through early intergovernmental treaties, the study traces key initiatives such as the Havana Charter, the activities of UNCTAD, and the rounds of GATT negotiations. It highlights the growing significance of services in global trade, the gradual recognition of the need for specialized legal norms, and the systemic shortcomings of pre-existing frameworks. The Uruguay Round and the eventual creation of the GATS are positioned as pivotal moments that formalized comprehensive, multilateral rules for trade in services. The research underscores the socio-economic implications of service liberalization and the continuing challenges in international regulation.

GATS, international organizations, evolution, regulation, World Trade Organization.

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