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FTAA.ngin/com/22
May 20, 2003

Original: English

FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON INVESTMENT 

Twenty-Second Meeting

Puebla, Mexico, May 12-16, 2003

PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ

1. The Twenty-Second Meeting of the Negotiating Group on Investment (NGIN) was held in Puebla, Mexico from 12 to 16 May 2003, with the participation of the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, and Uruguay.

2. The approved agenda for the discussions is attached hereto as Annex I.

3. The delegations held meetings on their market access offers.

4. Delegations exchanged views and continued with the consolidation of the draft text on the following issues: basic definitions, expropriation, compensation for losses, general exceptions, and reservations. Several delegations presented new proposals on these issues, which were incorporated into the draft text of the Chapter on Investment.

5. The Group exchanged ideas on its relationship to other FTAA entities, under the agenda item set aside therefore.

6. The Chair informed the Group that new contributions from civil society have been received since the Group’s Twenty-First Meeting.

7. ECLAC gave a presentation on its report “Foreign Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean: 2002.”

8. In regard to other issues, the Group discussed the organization of work for its next meeting.

9. The Group’s Twenty-Third Meeting will be held in Puebla, Mexico, from 9 to 13 June 2003.

FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON INVESTMENT

Twenty-Second Meeting

Puebla, May 12 – 16, 2003

AGENDA

Monday, 12 May

1. Review of offers and submissions of requests to improve offers (bilateral sessions)


Tuesday, 13 May

Review of offers and submissions of requests to improve offers (continuation of bilateral meetings); plenary meeting at 15:00


Wednesday, 14 May

2. Draft chapter

           Basic definitions


Thursday, 15 May

Draft chapter (cont.)

          Compensation for losses
          Expropriation


Friday, 16 May

Draft chapter (cont.)

          General exceptions and reservations

3. Relations with other FTAA entities

4. Report from the Chair on civil society contributions

5. Other business

           ECLAC presentation