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PublicFTAA.sme/com/19
 February 4, 2003
 
 Original: Spanish
 Translation: FTAA Secretariat
 
 
 
FTAA – CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES
 Nineteenth Meeting
 
 Panama, January 29-30, 2003
 
 
 PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ
 
 
The Nineteenth Meeting of the Consultative Group on Smaller Economies (CGSE) was 
held in Panama City, Panama, from 29-30 January 2003. In attendance were 
delegates of the following countries: Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, 
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica, 
Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and 
Venezuela.
 
The CGSE agreed on an agenda, which is attached hereto.
The CGSE approved the Guidelines for Drafting National Strategies to Strengthen 
Trade-Related Capacities of FTAA Countries. 
The CGSE received the Vice Chair of the Negotiating Group on Subsidies, 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties and the Chair of the Negotiating Group on 
Investment, who presented information on the treatment of differences in levels 
of development and size of economies in their respective groups.
The Twentieth Meeting of the CGSE will be held in Puebla, Mexico, during the 
month of April 2003.
 
 
 FTAA - CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES
 
 
 AGENDA
 
 
Follow-up on the implementation of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program (HCP)
 
 
National strategy to strengthen trade capacities of FTAA countries
Presentation by the delegation from El Salvador on its experiences in 
developing a national strategy.
Follow-up on the implementation of immediate technical assistance needs
Updated matrix of project profiles
Roundtable meetings
Trade-related technical assistance database
 
Follow-up on the treatment of differences in levels of development and size 
of economies
 
 
Individual reports from negotiating group chairs
Discussion of document “Consolidation of Proposals on the Treatment of 
Differences in Levels of Development and Size of Economies”
 
Follow-up on the implementation of Business Facilitation Measures
 
Studies
Civil Society Contributions
Other business
 
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