Public
FTAA.ngin/com/20
February 17, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON INVESTMENT

Twentieth Meeting

Panama City, 10-14 February 2003

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

1. The Twentieth Meeting of the Negotiating Group on Investment (NGIN) was held in Panama City from 10 to 14 February 2003, with the participation of the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

2. The approved agenda is attached hereto as Annex I.

3. The delegations exchanged opinions and made progress in consolidating the draft text on basic definitions, scope of application, national treatment, most-favored-nation treatment, and fair and equitable treatment. One delegations presented new proposals on these issues. These were incorporated into the draft text of the Chapter on Investment.

4. The Group exchanged ideas on the relation to other FTAA entities, under the agenda item set aside therefore.

5. The Chair informed the Group that no new contributions have been received from civil society since the Group’s Nineteenth Meeting.

6. One delegation presented new proposals on customary international law and expropriations. These were incorporated into the draft text of the Chapter on Investment.

7. Several delegations gave oral presentations on their initial market access offers. Other delegations exchanged their offers in bilateral meetings.

8. The Group’s Twenty-First Meeting will be held in Puebla, Mexico, from 24 to 28 March 2003.

FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON INVESTMENT

Twentieth Meeting

Panama City, 10-14 February 2003

AGENDA

Monday, 10 February
1. Draft Chapter

Basic definitions
Scope of coverage

Wednesday, 12 February
2. Relation to other FTAA entities
3. Report from the Chair on civil society contributions
4. Other issues
5. Presentation of offers

Thursday, 13 February
Presentation of offers (cont.)

Friday, 14 February
Presentation of offers (cont.)