Free Trade Area of the Americas - FTAA

espaņol

 
Ministerial
Declarations
Trade Negotiations
Committee
Negotiating
Groups
Special
Committees
Business
Facilitation
Civil
Society
Trade&Tariff
Database
Hemispheric
Cooperation
Program

Home Countries Sitemap A-Z list Governmental Contact Points

 
 

Derestricted
FTAA.ngsv/inf/25
August 12, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA – CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES

URUGUAY

REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE HEMISPHERIC COOPERATION PROGRAM


Introduction


With a view to a rewarding participation in the negotiation of the FTAA Chapter on Services, on an equal footing with other delegations, Uruguay is requesting support within the framework of the FTAA Hemispheric Cooperation Program to set up a database of non-conforming domestic measures on services-related matters.
The database would strengthen Uruguay’s capacity to participate fully in the negotiations on market access, which will begin in February 2003 with the presentation of offers.
In that regard, we request financial assistance to conduct an inventory of existing measures on services that restrict market access and national treatment, as well as the non-discriminating quantitative restrictions in the regulations currently in force.

  1. Project Title

    Strengthening of Uruguay’s negotiating capacity for the negotiation of the FTAA Chapter on Services.


  2. Background

    Uruguay has participated actively in the NGSV. So far, the negotiations have mainly addressed the regulatory framework of the Chapter on Services.

    As stipulated by the TNC, countries must present their offers between 15 December 2002 and 15 February 2003 (FTAA.TNC/20).

    Uruguay still does not have an exhaustive survey of all its non-conforming measures, and it must complete this task shortly in order to make a proper presentation of its offer.

    The survey has not been conducted largely because of the lack of the financial resources needed to engage technicians full-time to perform the task within a specific period of time.


  3. Rationale

    The mandate to present an offer on services within such a limited timeframe makes it imperative to have the inventory of non-conforming measures and quantitative restrictions ready.

    Having the inventory will enable Uruguay to make a more ambitious offer and technically improve its presentation.


  4. Objectives of the project:

    • To strengthen the country’s capacity to implement and participate fully in the FTAA.
    • To conduct the negotiation of services efficiently, tackling and overcoming the challenges effectively and maximizing the benefits associated with liberalization.
    • To present an offer that is consistent with the regulations currently in force.


  5. Inputs
    • Personnel:
      Local technical experts1 : 1 specialist in services, 1 lawyer, 1 computer technician, 1 document specialist, 1 data-entry clerk. Specialists for each sector (i.e., financial services, telecommunications, etc.)

    • Equipment:
      1 PC with Internet access, 1 printer, database software


  6. Expected Results

    Once the project is completed, we hope to have a database containing the inventory of non-conforming measures and quantitative restrictions included in the country’s regulations, for purposes of presenting Uruguay’s offer for the FTAA Chapter on Services.

    This will have a positive impact on our ability to respond to the challenges that may arise from the liberalization of trade in services and from the implementation of the FTA
 
1 We consider it necessary to hire local technical experts who are familiar with the country’s internal regulations.
 
countries sitemap a-z list governmental contact points