Public
FTAA.ngds/com/18
November 19, 2002
Original: English
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
Eighteenth Meeting
Panama, November 18 - 19, 2002
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
1. The eighteenth meeting of the Negotiating Group on Dispute
Settlement (NGDS) was held in Panama from November 18-19, 2002. Ms. Meg Kinnear
chaired the meeting. Mr. Federico Gajardo served as Vice Chair. In attendance
were representatives of the following eighteen (18) countries of the hemisphere:
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, the
United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
2. The adopted agenda for the meeting is attached as
annex.
3. All the items on the agenda were considered. The Group discussed the relevant
extracts from the Quito Ministerial Declaration and their implications for the
work of the NGDS. The NGDS approved its work plan for 2002-2003.
4. Information provided by twenty (20) countries on their respective national
laws on arbitration and/or institutions, is posted on the FTAA web page on
private commercial arbitration at
http://www.ftaa-alca.org/busfac/canale.asp
5. The Group discussed contributions received from civil society in response to
the open invitations to civil society.
6. The date of the next meeting of the NGDS will be scheduled by the TNC.
FTAA - NEGOTIATING GROUP ON DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
Eighteenth Meeting
Panama, November 18 - 19, 2002
AGENDA
1. Approval of Agenda
2. Update on Mandate - Quito Ministerial Declaration
3. Work plan
* Approach to NGDS Chapter
* Meetings Required
4. Relationship with Other Entities
* TCI
* Consultative Group on Smaller Economies
* Other
5. Discussion on how to design mechanisms to facilitate and promote the use
of arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution methods to settle
private disputes.
6. Contributions from Civil Society
7. Review of Draft Chapter
* Architecture of Dispute Settlement Chapter
8. Other
* FTAA glossary on dispute settlement
* Public statement
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