The twenty-fifth meeting of the Negotiating Group on Market Access (NGMA) was held in Puebla, Mexico from March 24 –28, 2003. Mr. Felipe Jaramillo of Colombia chaired the meeting. The Vice-chair is Mr. Manuel Diaz of the Dominican Republic. In attendance were delegates of the following countries: Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. The Tripartite Committee provided technical support to the meeting.

The NGMA agreed on an agenda, which is attached hereto. All the items on the agenda were satisfactorily addressed.

The Group made significant advances in the discussion about substantive issues related to customs procedures related to rules of origin; customs procedures, and rules of origin. The Group acknowledged receipt of two contributions from Civil Society. Some delegations indicated the high quality of some of these contributions. Delegations agreed to take into account these contributions in the definition of their negotiating positions.

The Group also requested the IDB to provide information about its program of financial and technical support for the implementation of the eight customs-related business facilitation measures that were approved by Ministers in their meeting in Toronto in November 1999.

The Group’s next meeting will be held in Puebla, Mexico from 6-9 May 2003.

1. Approval of the Agenda

2. General issues

3. Methods and Modalities for Tariff Negotiations

4. Status of the tariff negotiations

5. Text on [Customs] Procedures related to Rules of Origin

6. Accumulation and General Rules for Qualifying for Origin

7. Text on Customs Procedures

8. Issues related to the Chair’s Report to the TNC

9. Contributions from Civil Society

10. Agenda for the next meeting

11. Other issues