International Journal of Management, IT and Engineering

Contribution of energy services is increasing over the years and playing a major role in world trading system. Service sectors in WTO are generally governed by General Agreement on trade in service which formed in 1995. But in WTO, still GATS are ongoing issue under current Doha agenda for more liberalization in different service sectors specific issue through successive round of negotiation. In this research paper authors try to define different component of energy services through different service trade database namely EBOPS, WTO service list and different CPC version. This research paper projects substantial growth pattern in total trade of energy services and also evaluate change pattern in competitive advantages of energy services among major economics in South and East Asia specially China, India, Japan and Korea. Research paper maps degree of energy service liberalization through Hoekman index method under three sub regional (BCIM, BIMSTEC+1, ASEAN+4) framework to show existence of limitation on Market access and national treatment within this sector. This research paper evaluates commitments level differs among different components of energy services and overall commitment levels under ASEAN+4 is highest among three FTA studies. It is also observed that similarity pattern among different energy service commitment level across regions enhanced economic cooperation and liberalization of energy services. Authors also evaluate potentialities of energy service trade among three regional blocks and to identify from which blocks future enhancements may come. In this paper author pointed out major challenges and quantify the main barriers in energy service trade through Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) score.