Public
FTAA.ngcp/com/22
August 28, 2003
Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON COMPETITION POLICY
Twenty-Second Meeting
Puebla, 18 - 22 August 2003
PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ
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The Twenty-Second Meeting of the Negotiating Group on Competition Policy (NGCP)
was held in Puebla from 18 to 22 August 2003. In attendance were representatives
from the following 13 countries in the Hemisphere:
Argentina, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and United States. Some countries
were represented by sub-regional spokespersons.
The meeting proceeded in accordance with the attached agenda, and several tasks were completed,
including the following:
- The Chair briefly informed the delegations on the results of the TNC meeting
that took place from 8-11 July 2003 in San Salvador, including progress in the
negotiations and some guidance from the TNC and the TCI on the tasks to be
performed before the next Ministerial Meeting.
- As in previous sessions, the Hemispheric Cooperation Program (HCP) was
discussed, and the delegates were urged to continue collaborating in the
development of national action plans.
- Substantive progress was made in reaching consensus on issues in the draft
Chapter related to treatment, and General Provisions. The delegations also
reviewed the reordering of the Chapter, in institutional aspects - the
Competition Committee and the Competition Policy Review Mechanism, Mechanisms
for Cooperation and Exchange of Information, Consultations, Dispute Settlement,
Technical Assistance, Transitional Periods or Measures, or special and
differential treatment, and General Provisions. The delegates also reviewed the
reordering of the Chapter in accordance with the proposed new format.
- Additional responses to the questionnaire for countries that do not
have competition laws were received as were recommendations that will enrich a
report to help achieve the goal of capacity building in this area and, thereby,
derive more benefit from the HCP.
- Also, the Group has started to receive additional background
information from countries, which will be used to update the Inventory of
Domestic Laws and Regulations Relating to Competition Policy in the Western
Hemisphere. This document, together with the inventories of the Development and
Enforcement of Competition Policy and Laws, and of Regional Agreements, has lent
recognizably greater transparency to competition regimes.
- The delegations discussed the draft Report to the Fifteenth Meeting of
the TNC, to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in September. The report gives an
account of the work performed by the Group since the Quito Ministerial Meeting,
held last November. This report highlights the main points of consensus reached
by the Group, as well as the issues that still require further discussion in the
negotiations.
- The Group considered the contributions from civil society and made
comments in that regard. A report was distributed on the contributions received
since the Quito Ministerial Meeting.
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Technical Assistance meetings, held parallel to the NGCP meetings, were resumed
in order to address the concerns of smaller economies.
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON COMPETITION POLICY Twenty-Second
Meeting
Puebla, 18 - 22 August 2003
AGENDA
- Report from Chair on the Fourteenth Meeting of the Trade Negotiations
Committee (TNC) held in San Salvador on 8-11 July 2003, and review of the TNC’s
Guidance And Instructions to FTAA Entities (FTAA.TNC/23).
- Review of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program.
- 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, request to update information on the Inventory of Domestic Laws and
Regulations Relating to Competition Policy in the Western Hemisphere.
- Work towards eliminating brackets from the draft Chapter on Competition
Policy.
- Overall reconsideration and restructuring of the draft Chapter pursuant to
the template provided in document Template.
- Preparation of the Group's report to Fifteenth Meeting of the TNC
pursuant to document Report from the Negotiating Groups and Technical Committee
on Institutional Issues to the Trade Negotiations Committee.
- Discussion of civil society contributions.
- Other business.
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