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FTAA.ngcp/com/20
8 de mayo de 2003
Original: Inglés
Traducción: Secretaría ALCA
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON COMPETITION POLICY
Twentieth Meeting
Puebla, 28–30 April and 1–2 May 2003
PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ
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The Twentieth Meeting of the Negotiating Group on Competition Policy (NGCP) was
held in Puebla, 28–30 April and 1–2 May 2003. In attendance were representatives
from the following 15 countries of the Hemisphere:
Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Dominican
Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
and Venezuela.
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The meeting proceeded in accordance with the agenda attached and completed several
tasks, including the following:
- The Chair briefly informed the delegations on the results of the TNC meeting
that took place on April 8-11 2003 including progress on the Hemispheric
Cooperation Program (HCP). The group was updated on the work of the Technical
Committee on Institutional Issues (TCI).
- The Group considered the Civil Society contributions from the Center for
Policy Analysis on Trade and Health (CPATH) (FTAA.soc/civ/65) and Oxfam America
(FTAA.soc/civ/66).
- The Work Program approved established that the next two meetings will take
place on 16-20 June and 18-20 August, the latter pending of approval.
- 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 progress of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program was discussed by
the delegations.
- Progress was made in reaching consensus on issues in the Draft Chapter
on Competition Policy related to the Competition Committee, the Competition
Policy Review Mechanism, Consultations, Dispute Settlement, Mechanisms for
Cooperation and for Exchange of Information and Transitional Periods or
Measures. The delegates also reviewed provisions in the text related to issues
on Designated or Legally Established Monopolies, State Enterprises, State aids
and Confidentiality.
- Delegates also discussed the progress achieved in relation to the
treatment of differences in the levels of development and size of economies in
the NGCP.
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON COMPETITION POLICY Twentieth
Meeting
Puebla, 28–30 April and 1–2 May 2003
AGENDA
- Report from the Chair on the meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee
(TNC).
- Discussion on the proposed Work Plan in accordance with the new Schedule of
Meetings based on the new proposal for the Draft Chapter.
- Delivery by delegations of the questionnaire for countries that do not have
competition laws, after being duly completed and with the information for the
Inventory of Domestic Laws and Regulations Relating to Competition Policy in the
Western Hemisphere, for the purpose of distributing and discussing the tables
prepared by the Tripartite Committee.
- Review of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program.
- Work towards eliminating brackets from Articles 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 5.1,
5.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and 7 of the Draft Chapter on Competition Policy, in
accordance with the Work Plan, as well as articles 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 8.2, and 8.3,
which the delegations agreed to revisit.
- Overall reconsideration and restructuring of the Draft Chapter.
- Discussion by delegates on the progress achieved in relation to the
treatment of differences in the levels of development and size of economies in
the NGCP, so that the Chair may prepare a report to the TNC and the Consultative
Group on Smaller Economies (CGSE) addressing this issue, in compliance with the
mandate set forth in paragraph 17 of the Quito Ministerial Declaration.
- Considerations of Civil Society contributions.
- Other business.
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