Public
FTAA.ngcp/com/19
January 24, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON COMPETITION POLICY

Nineteenth Meeting

Panama, January 21-24, 2003

PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ

1. The Nineteenth Meeting of the Negotiating Group on Competition Policy (NGCP) was held in Panama from 21 to 24 January 2003. In attendance were representatives from the following 20 countries of the Hemisphere:  
   
   Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

2. The meeting proceeded in accordance with the following agenda and completed several tasks, including the following:
   

   The Work Program was modified to include two more meetings: one in July and the other, August. This change will be raised at the next TNC so as to make progress in reaching consensuses on the Draft Chapter.
   
   In the same vein, progress was made in reaching consensus on issues tackled in the Draft Chapter on Competition Policy, such as market regulatory policies and measures, state aids, non discriminatory treatment, due process, transparency, definitions and principles, confidentiality and technical assistance.
   
   Finally, responses to the questionnaire for countries that do not have competition laws were received from several countries of the region and the countries that have not yet completed the information requested were urged to do so in a timely manner. The Chair assumed the responsibility for consolidating the information.