Public
FTAA.tci/com/14
September 3, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA - TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

Fourteenth Meeting

Puebla, Mexico, 25 and 26 August 2003

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

1. Fourteenth Meeting of the Technical Committee on Institutional Issues (TCI) was held in Puebla, Mexico, on 25 and 26 August 2003, under the chairmanship of Mr. Mario Matus, of Chile. In attendance were representatives from the following 17 countries: Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the United States, and Uruguay.

2. The approved agenda for the discussions is attached hereto as an annex.

3. All the items on the agenda were covered.The TCI continued its review of the documents referring to the architecture and structure of the FTAA Agreement, including institutional issues and its eventual financing. Furthermore, the TCI discussed and approved the Committee’s report that is to be submitted at the next TNC meeting, to be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The draft consolidated text forms part of the report. The TCI discussed the proposals presented by some of the delegations on various issues. Finally, the TCI noted with regret that, once again, the Committee had not received any contributions from civil society. One delegation, however, presented a proposal for the creation of a Civil Society Committee. This proposal was based on document FTAA.TNC/22 (10 April 2003).

4. The date of the TCI’s next meeting will be determined by the Trade Negotiations Committee.

FTAA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

Fourteenth Meeting

Puebla, 25 and 26 August 2003

AGENDA

1. Approval of the agenda

2. Architecture and structure of the agreement

A. Preliminary Structure of the Agreement
B. Institutional Issues

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

4. Relations with other FTAA entities and civil society contributions

5. Other business

• New contributions

6. Discussion and approval of the Report to the TNC