Miami, August 7-8, 2000

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

1. The Eighth Meeting of the Negotiating Group on Dispute Settlement took place in Miami from August 7-8, 2000. Delegates from the following countries were in attendance: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

2. The Agenda approved for discussion can be found in Annex I attached hereto.

3. All the items on the agenda were considered. during the meeting.

4. The next meeting of the Negotiating Group on Dispute Settlement will be held from September 26-28, 2000.

FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

Eighth Meeting

  Miami, August 7-8, 2000

AGENDA

1) Continuation of discussion of Chapter proposals, based on the compilation prepared by the Chair.

2) Continuation of discussion of different mechanisms to facilitate and encourage the use of arbitration and other dispute settlement alternative procedures to resolve private disputes in the framework of the FTAA.

3) Future timetable.

4) Other business.