Panama, February 4-6, 2002

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

The thirteenth meeting of the FTAA Negotiating Group on Intellectual Property Rights (NGIP) took place in Panama on February 4-6, 2002. Delegates from the following 19 countries were present: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela. The agenda of the meeting is attached to this Communiqué. The NGIP discussed all items on its agenda. The NGIP consolidated Part I (General Provisions and Basic Principles); and Part II, Section 1, 2, 5 and 9 (Trademarks, Geographical Indications, Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits, and Industrial Designs) of the NGIP draft preliminary text. The NGIP will hold its next meeting on March 4-6, 2002.