Public
FTAA.sme/com/21
June 27, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA - CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES

Twenty-First Meeting

Puebla, 16 – 17 June, 2003

PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ

1. The Twenty-First Meeting of the Consultative Group on Smaller Economies (CGSE) was held in Puebla, Mexico, on 16 and 17 June 2003. In attendance were delegates from the following countries: Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and Venezuela.
   
   
2. The CGSE adopted the approved agenda, which is attached hereto.
   
   
3. Pursuant to the mandate handed down by the TNC, the CGSE agreed on an Action Plan for convening roundtable meetings to discuss mechanisms for the financing and implementation of the Hemispheric Cooperation Plan. The first of these meetings will be held in Puebla, Mexico, during the month of October, in the framework of the CGSE. The results of this meeting will be presented during the Miami Ministerial Meeting.
   
   
4. The CGSE welcomed the status of the National Strategies to Strengthen Trade-Related Capacities of FTAA Countries.
   
   
5. The CGSE received the Chair of the Negotiating Group on Competition Policy, who presented a report on that Group’s treatment of differences in the levels of development and sizes of economies.
    
6. The Twenty-Second Meeting of the CGSE will be held in Puebla, Mexico, on 3, 4, and 5 September 2003.

FTAA - CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES

Twenty-First Meeting

Puebla, Mexico, 16 – 17 June, 2003

AGENDA

1. Approval of the agenda
   
   
2. Follow-up on the implementation of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program
   
   
   1. Action Plan for meetings of the CGSE with officials of HCP financing entities
       
   2. Report on Subregional Seminars under the responsibility of cooperating entities
       
   3. Status of the formulation of pending strategies
       
   4. Follow-up on the implementation of immediate technical assistance needs, including the revision of the updated matrix of project profiles
       
   5. Trade-related technical assistance database, in light of national strategies
   
   
3. Follow-up on the treatment of differences in levels of development and sizes of economies
   
   
   1. Individual reports from negotiating group chairs
      
    
4. Follow-up on the implementation of Business Facilitation Measures
    
5. Studies
    
6. Contributions from Civil Society
    
7. Other business