Public
FTAA.tci/com/13
August 12, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA - TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

Thirteenth Meeting

Puebla, Mexico, 28 and 29 July 2003

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

1. The Thirteenth Meeting of the Technical Committee on Institutional Issues (TCI) was held in Puebla, Mexico, on 28 and 29 July 2003, under the chairmanship of Mr. Mario Matus from Chile. In attendance were representatives from the following 14 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

2. The agenda adopted for the discussions is annexed hereto.

3. All the items on the agenda were discussed. The TCI concentrated its efforts at this meeting on reviewing the documents regarding the architecture and structure of the FTAA Agreement, including institutional issues and the Agreement’s eventual funding. The TCI also discussed the draft text that is to be presented at the next TNC meeting, to be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The TCI then discussed the proposals presented by some delegations. Finally, the TCI voiced its regret that it had not received any contributions from civil society since its last meeting.

4. The next TCI meeting is scheduled to be held in Puebla, Mexico, from 25 to 27 August 2003.

1. Approval of the agenda

2. Report on the Fourteenth Meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee TNC (El Salvador, 7–11 July)

3. Architecture and structure of the Agreement

4. Preparation of the Report to the TNC

5. Relation to other FTAA entities and contributions of Civil Society

6. Discussion of new contributions on the following topics: Preamble, Articles 1 to 28, and Annexes.

7. Other business.