Hemispheric trade ministers achieve concrete progress - negotiations continue on Free Trade Area of the Americas

Achieving the Free Trade Area of the Americans (FTAA) by 2005 is critical to the Administration's commercial and diplomatic strategy. Liberalizing the flow of goods and services, fostering investment and implementing transparent, predictable trade rules not only means increased opportunities for U.S. firms and workers, but it is also instrumental to the region's continued economic prosperity and political stability.

Much has been accomplished since Heads-of-State from within the region agreed to the FTAA more than 24 months ago. At the first Ministerial held in Denver in July 1995, seven initial working groups were established -- market access, customs and rules of origin, subsidies, antidumping and countervailing duties, investment, standards and technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and smaller economies. Between Denver and the second Ministerial held in Cartagena, Colombia, March 21, 1996, each working group met at least three times, and as a consequence, made major advances on compiling data necessary for conducting detailed negotiations.

At Cartagena, Ministers achieved significant agreement toward launching actual FTAA negotiations (a complete copy of the Ministerial Declaration may be viewed at the International Trade Administration's web site at http://www.ita.doc.gov), reaching decisions on a number of key issues.

A number of areas for immediate action, or business facilitation measures, were agreed to in line with the Ministerial pledge to achieve concrete progress "by the end of this century" toward attainment of the FTAA by 2005 (see box at right). Significantly, work groups were instructed to develop additional business facilitation measures in advance of the next Ministerial.

Brazil has developed an agenda for three Vice Ministerial meetings (as agreed at Cartagena): one in September, another in mid-December and the last immediately before the Trade Ministerial. In addition, to ensure better coordination and liaison between each of the work groups, and the work groups and the Tripartite Commission, Brazil has organized a meeting of working group chairs, July 31-August 1, in Washington, D.C.

In the interim, the Administration invites interested parties to submit ideas relating to additional business facilitation measures in line with the Minister's decision at Cartagena. Ideas may be sent care of: The Office of Inter-American Affairs, Room 3025, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 E St., NW., Washington, D.C. 20230; tel. (202) 482-2436, fax (202) 482-4726. In addition, those desiring a copy of the Cartagena Ministerial Proceedings (out in early fall), may contact Liliana Arrazola of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Trade by phone (571) 286-9111, or by fax (571) 334-9908.

COPYRIGHT 1996 U.S. Government Printing Office
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