The Twenty-first Meeting of the Negotiating Group on Market Access (NGMA) was held in Panama City, Panama from 29 July to 2 August 2002. In attendance were delegates of the following countries: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

The NGMA agreed on the  Agenda,  which is attached to this press communiqué. All the items on it were covered.

In accordance with the instructions given to the NGMA by the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) and the Ministers Responsible for Trade, the work of the Group centered on a review of the chapters of the FTAA Agreement entrusted to this Group, as well as preparing recommendations for the TNC on methods for determining tariff concessions; general rules of origin, inter alia, the de minimis level and accumulation, including during the transition period; and the organization of an ad hoc group for specific rules of origin; and organizational aspects of the tariff negotiations. Based on these discussions, the Group prepared its report to the TNC for its next meeting in August 2002.

The Tripartite Committee reported to the Group on the subregional technical workshops that have been held on the Hemispheric Data Base System, Rules of Origin and other issues related to tariff negotiations.

The Group acknowledged receipt of the civil society contributions forwarded by the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society to the NGMA. The delegations agreed to give all due attention to these contributions.

1. Approval of the Agenda

2. General issues

3. Tariffs

     • Text of the Chapter
     • Methods for determining concessions

4. Rules of origin

     • Text of the Chapter
     • Negotiation of general rules of origin, inter alia, the level of de minimis and the application
       of the principle of accumulation
     • Organization of the ad hoc group

5. [Customs] Procedures on Rules of Origin (Text of the Chapter)

6. Customs Procedures (Text of the Chapter)

7. Safeguards (Text of the Chapter)

8. Standards and Technical Barriers to Trade (Text of the Chapter)

9. Report to the TNC

10. Agenda for the next meeting

11. Other matters