ANNEX I
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEGOTIATING GROUPS

B) AGRICULTURE.

1. We instruct the Negotiating Group on Agriculture to submit to the Trade Negotiations Committee, in coordination with the Negotiating Group on Market Access, recommendations on the methods and modalities for tariff negotiations by April 1, 2002, to be evaluated by the TNC at its first meeting following that date, in order to initiate negotiations May 15, 2002.

2. We instruct the Negotiating Group on Agriculture to submit to the Trade Negotiations Committee, recommendations on the scope and methodology for eliminating export subsidies affecting trade in agricultural products in the Hemisphere by the deadline of April 1, 2002, to be evaluated by the TNC at its first meeting following that date.

3. We instruct the Negotiating Group on Agriculture to submit to the Trade Negotiations Committee, by the deadline of April 1, 2002, recommendations on the types of measures and the methodology for the development of disciplines to be adopted for the treatment of all the other practices that distort trade in agricultural products, including those which have an equivalent effect to agricultural export subsidies, for evaluation by the TNC at its first meeting following that date. Such recommendations shall not preclude in any way the discussion of all the elements and subjects which delegations deem necessary for addressing all such practices.

4. We instruct the Negotiating Group on Agriculture to accelerate the process of identifying non-tariff measures so as to have, by April, 2002, a preliminary inventory of such measures, in order to establish a methodology, including a schedule, where appropriate, for the elimination, reduction, definition, further definition, further disciplining and / or prevention of non-tariff barriers.

5. We instruct the Negotiating Group on Agriculture to work, in coordination with the Negotiating Group on Market Access and the Tripartite Committee, to ensure that the Hemispheric Data Base is fully operational by November 1, 2001.

6. We instruct the Negotiating Group on Agriculture to establish a process of notification and counter-notification of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and to submit to the Trade Negotiations Committee, by the deadline of April 1, 2002 recommendations on the treatment to be adopted in order to prevent these measures from becoming unjustified obstacles to trade in the hemisphere.

7. We instruct the Negotiating Group on Agriculture to develop mechanisms to facilitate the full implementation of the WTO SPS Agreement in the Hemisphere.