Service sectors are the subject of this paper; the challenges of ensuring universal and affordable access to health, water, sanitation and energy for poor people remain an utmost priority of most national governments. International trade in these services is not, and will never be, a substitute for conscious national strategies aimed at meeting universal goals in favour of poor people. The provision of most essential services is almost entirely a public prerogative, not only because of their strong human rights content, but also because of the large social externalities and market failures involved in access to basic health or water. However, there are ways and methods to leverage the forces of international trade to directly and indirectly to help countries meet aspects of these urgent public needs. This paper makes an attempt to highlight some of these options. The paper concludes with suggested approaches to strategically respond to trade negotiating requests so that, ultimately, national measures aimed at ensuring access to essential services by the poor are bolstered, not restrained.