Public
FTAA.ngcp/com/21/Rev.1
June 25, 2003
Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON COMPETITION POLICY
Twenty-First Meeting
Puebla, 16 - 20 June 2003
PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ
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The Twenty-First Meeting of the Negotiating Group on Competition Policy (NGCP)
was held in Puebla from 16 to 20 June 2003. In attendance were representatives
from the following 16 countries in the hemisphere:
Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Dominican
Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United Status,
and Venezuela.
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The meeting proceeded in accordance with the attached agenda, and several tasks were completed,
including the following:
- The Chair briefly addressed the delegates on the results of the meeting held
on 16 June 2003 between the Co-Chairs of the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC)
and the FTAA Entity Chairs in preparation for the Fourteenth TNC, including the
progress made in the work of the negotiations, the Hemispheric Cooperation
Program (HCP), and the guidance received from the Technical Committee on
Institutional Issues (TCI).
- Progress was made in reaching consensus on topics in the Draft Chapter on
Competition Policy related to Competition Law, Legal or Designated Monopolies,
State Enterprises, State Aids, Confidentiality, and General Provisions The
delegates also examined the provisions in the text related to Mechanisms for
Cooperation and the Exchange of Information, and Dispute Settlement. In
addition, the NGCP made progress with regards to the simplification and
reorganization of the structure of the Chapter.
- Additional 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 provided all the information requested were urged to
do so on time. Also, a request was made for the information on the Inventory of
Domestic Laws and Regulations Relating to Competition Policy in the Western
Hemisphere to be updated.
- The delegations were urged to continue to provide information for
drawing up National Action Plans within the context of the Hemispheric
Cooperation Program.
- The group also received Civil Society Contributions from several
organizations, and these drew various comments.
- The NGCP was encouraged to submit proposals for the upcoming TNC
meetings that have been scheduled for July and September 2003, in preparation
for the next Ministerial Meeting which is to be held in November 2003.
- The Group decided to request an extension of its next work session
from 18 to 22 August.
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The Chair of the NGCP attended a meeting of the Consultative Group on Smaller
Economies, at the invitation of the Chair of the latter, and made a presentation
on the progress achieved in the NGCP in areas of concern to these economies.
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON COMPETITION POLICY Twenty-First
Meeting
Puebla, 16-20, June 2003
AGENDA
- Report from the Chair on the meeting between the Co-Chairs of the Trade
Negotiations Committee (TNC) and the Chairs of other FTAA entities in
preparation for the Fourteenth Meeting of the TNC.
- Work towards eliminating brackets from the Draft Chapter on Competition
Policy.
- Continued delivery by delegations of the questionnaire for countries that do
not have competition laws, after being duly completed, with a view to
distributing and discussing the tables prepared by the Tripartite Committee. In
addition, requests to update information on the Inventory of Domestic Laws and
Regulations Relating to Competition Policy in the Western Hemisphere.
- Review of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program.
- Overall reconsideration and restructuring of the Draft Chapter.
- Discussion of civil society contributions.
- Issues, that the NGCP would like to raise to the TNC for its next
meeting in El Salvador.
- Other business.
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