Public
FTAA.sme/com/22
September 16, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA - CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES

Twenty-Second Meeting

Puebla, 3 – 5 September 2003

PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ

1. The Twenty-Second Meeting of the Consultative Group on Smaller Economies (CGSE) was held in Puebla, Mexico, on 3, 4, and 5 September 2003. In attendance were delegates of the following countries: Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, and Venezuela.
   
   
2. The CGSE adopted the agenda, which is attached hereto.
   
   
3. The CGSE adopted the document entitled “Initial Meeting with Donor Countries for the Implementation of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program (HCP)”, which includes the draft agenda for the Initial Roundtable Meeting with Donor Countries for the Implementation of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program (HCP). This meeting will be held in Washington, D.C, on 14 and 15 October and the results will be presented at the Miami Ministerial Meeting.
   
   
4. The CGSE took note of the status of the National Strategies to Strengthen Trade-Related Capacities of FTAA Countries.
   
   
5. The CGSE received the Chairs of the Negotiating Groups on Services and Government Procurement, each of whom presented a report on those Groups’ treatment of differences in the levels of development and size of economies.
    
6. In fulfillment of the mandate received from the TNC, the CGSE adopted the document entitled “Inputs from the CGSE to the TNC on the Results of the Progress Achieved Regarding the Treatment of Differences in the Levels of Development and Size of Economies”, which provides inputs to the TNC on the results and progress achieved regarding the treatment of differences in the levels of development and size of economies in each of the Negotiating Groups.
    
7. The Twenty-Third Meeting of the CGSE will be held in Washington, D.C., the 16th and 17th of October 2003.

FTAA - CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES

Twenty-Second Meeting

Puebla, Mexico, 3–5 September 2003

AGENDA

1. Approval of the agenda
   
   
2. Report from the Chair on the San Salvador TNC and on the meeting of the Vice Chairs of the FTAA Entities in preparation for the Port of Spain TNC
   
   
3. Follow-up on, and general assessment of, the implementation of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program
   
   1. Status of the formulation of pending strategies
   2. Review of the agenda for the initial meeting between donors and recipients
   3. Review of immediate technical assistance needs, including the updated Matrix of Project Profiles
   4. Technical assistance database
      
   
    
4. Follow-up on the treatment of differences in levels of development and size of economies
   
   1. Reports from the Negotiating Group chairs
   2. Analysis of the document prepared by the Tripartite Committee on the issue
   3. Proposals to identify adequate and timely means, in addition to the HCP, for the treatment of differences in the levels of development and size of economies, including additional sources of financing.
    
5. Business facilitation measures
    
6. Studies conducted
    
7. Other business