PUBLIC
FTAA.ngma/com/01
January 21, 1999
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON MARKET ACCESS
Second Meeting
Miami, January 18-21, 1999
PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ
- The second meeting of the Negotiating Group on
Market Access took place in Miami from January 18 through 21, 1999.
Delegates from the following countries participated therein: Argentina,
Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico,
Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, United
States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
- The following topics were discussed at the meeting:
- Hemispheric trade data.
- Definition of the methods, modalities and timetables for eliminating tariffs; the approach to tariff elimination; the phasing-in periods; the pace of reduction of tariffs; and the base year and tariff for negotiations.
- Identification of other measures that affect the applied tariff (custom surcharges and other fees levied on imports, tariff rate quotas, price bands, etc).
- Identify, analyze and determine the treatment of special regimes.
- Identification of non-tariff measures that will be subject to negotiation.
- Determine the process for on-going identification of non-tariff measures over the course of negotiations.
- Outline the elements of the rules of origin chapter.
- Exchange of ideas on the content of each of the elements identified in the chapter on rules of origin.
- Updating of information on rules of origin.
- Establish an outline of the elements of the chapter on customs procedures.
- Exchange of ideas on the content of the chapter on customs procedures for each of the elements identified.
- Customs procedures that the countries applied under preferential subregional agreements concluded in the Hemisphere.
- Safeguard regimes that the countries applied under preferential subregional agreements concluded in the Hemisphere.
- Based on the Common Objectives Paper already
approved and the Report of the Working Group on Standards and Technical
Barriers to Trade presented to the Preparatory Committee in San
José, Costa Rica, October 28-30, 1997, draw up a proposal on the
identification and elimination of unnecessary technical barriers to
trade among the participating countries.
- The meeting's agenda is being attached for
further information.
- The Negotiating Group on Market Access resolved
to hold its next meeting on the 22, 23, 24 and morning of the 25th
of March 1999.
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON MARKET ACCESS
Second Meeting
Miami, January 18-21, 1999
AGENDA
- Tariffs
Non-Tariff Measures
Rules of Origin
Customs Procedures
Safeguards
Standards and Technical Barriers to Trade
Other business
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