Additional information on best practices and illustrative examples of consultations with civil society at the national/regional level, as provided by delegations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Culture of the Argentine Republic, through the Secretariat of International Trade and Economic Relations and its dependent institutions, is carrying out several activities to promote the participation of civil society in the trade negotiations.

These activities include: distribution of information on trade negotiations in which the Argentine Republic is involved, calls for briefings on the negotiation processes, timely consultations on issues of interest to civil society, and participation in seminars and workshops on trade negotiations. Furthermore, Argentina has established four institutional mechanisms for civil society participation: the Mercosur Economic and Social Consultative Forum, the International Trade Council, the Civil Society Consultative Council, and the Parliamentary Working Group.

The goal of these initiatives is to allow for follow-up and broad-based civil society participation in the architecture of Argentina’s position as it is presented in the various negotiations in which our country is involved.

The Mercosur Economic and Social Consultative Forum, established in the Ouro Preto Protocol of December 1994, comprises representatives of various economic and social sectors of the four Mercosur Member States.

The national sections that compose the Forum are autonomous in their organization and may independently choose their participating entities. In the case of Argentina, the Forum consists of representatives of the Argentine Industrial Union, the Argentine Chamber of Commerce, the Argentine Rural Society, the General Confederation of Labor, and the Argentine Consumer Association (ADELCO).

The Forum acts as a consultative body and formulates recommendations for the Mercosur Common Market Group.

The International Trade Council, created in November 2002 on the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, comprises representatives of 30 academic and business entities from the Argentine Republic.

The Council meets monthly with government officials responsible for trade negotiations and who represent the various government agencies that participate in these negotiations. Prior to each meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submits briefings on the status of trade negotiations, which are subsequently analyzed by the Council.

The Council fulfills consultative duties and submits its contributions to the Secretariat of Trade and International Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Civil Society Consultative Council, created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina in December 2002, comprises representatives of 65 academic, business, union, and consumer entities, as well as non-governmental organizations, interested in the development of the negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

The Council meets monthly with government officials responsible for the Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiations and who represent the various government agencies that participating therein. The goal of the Council is to analyze the progress of the FTAA negotiations, through discussion on each of the substantive issues in the hemispheric process.

Prior to each meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs distributes the draft chapter corresponding to each FTAA entity, as well as a briefing on the position of Argentina and Mercosur on the issue being considered. Particpants may make contributions, suggestions, and comments regarding each of the negotiating themes.

The Council fulfills consultative duties and submits its contributions to the Directorate for North America and Hemispheric Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Parliamentary Working Group, created in December 2002 on the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, comprises legislators from the various committees of the legislative branch of government that work in trade negotiations: Foreign Affairs, Trade, Industry, Agriculture, Mercosur, Integration, and Trade Negotiations.

The Working Group meets monthly with trade negotiation officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina. The goal of the Working Group is to conduct ongoing monitoring of the negotiations in which the Argentine Republic participates. Prior to each meeting, briefing documents on the status of trade negotiations are distributed.

In addition to these institutional mechanisms to promote the participation of different sectors of civil society, the Government of Argentina has further opportunities to communicate with those sectors interested in trade negotiations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has posted permanent information on its web page about the country’s trade negotiations, including the FTAA Draft Agreements. Further information on these processes is available electronically and also published in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic.

Working meetings are also conducted to report on the progress of the negotiations and to request timely contributions from civil society on issues under consideration in each of the negotiating processes. Seminars and/or workshops are organized for different entities interested in the progress of the negotiations.

Finally, briefings and assessments are conducted before and after the Ministerial and the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) meetings of the FTAA. Similar meetings are held after the meetings of the FTAA Negotiating Groups in which sectors interested in the substantive negotiations issues of each entity participate.

As part of the Buenos Aires Ministerial Declaration, Ministers recognized the importance of maintaining an open and sustained dialogue with civil society. On that occasion, Ministers recognized the importance of the fora and seminars on FTAA negotiations that different civil society organizations have carried out in the countries of the region and invited them to present the conclusions of their work to the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society (Buenos Aires Ministerial Declaration, paragraph 30).

This commitment to recognize and encourage the organization of regional and national seminars related to the process of establishing the FTAA was reaffirmed in the Quito Ministerial Declaration, which also welcomed the presentations of the conclusions to the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society (Quito Ministerial Declaration, paragraph 32).

In light of this, the Brazilian Delegation would like to submit a summary report on the national seminar “Brazil and the FTAA”, organized by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, with the support of the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations, on 23 and 24 October, 2001. The objective was to discuss the potential economic and social impact of the FTAA on Latin America, particularly Brazil, in light of the heterogeneity of social indicators, cultural heritage, economic development and levels of specialization of the States participating in this endeavor.

The seminar brought together a group of distinguished foreign and Brazilian authorities, academics, business people, union leaders and journalists representing a wide array of tendencies and opinions. The proceedings were open to participation by all sectors of Brazilian society. Over the course of two days, fifty-five speakers exchanged views and debated the diverse aspects of negotiating a free trade area in the Americas.

The meeting was subdivided into seven panel discussions encompassing such diverse questions as the ongoing processes of integration across the world; the experience of the North American Free Trade Agreement; market access, tariffs, barriers to trade and rules of origin; agriculture; services, investments and government procurement; financial services; telecommunications; labor and environmental standards; trade defense and competition policy; intellectual property and, finally, a general evaluation of the discussions.

The programs of the seminar and background information about the main speakers are attached.

Full transcripts of all the debates and additional background papers are contained in the book “Brazil and the FTAA”, which will be made available by Brazil to all delegations at the Administrative Secretariat.

Openness and transparency are fundamental to the way in which Canada approaches trade negotiations. The Government of Canada supports greater engagement with all the levels of government (provincial, territorial and municipal), as well as with parliamentarians, in the inter-American trade agenda. Canada’s position for all trade negotiations is developed by the Federal Government in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, and reflects the results of extensive consultations with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), businesses and the general public. These consultations are an important part of the Government’s overall commitment to ensure that Canada’s position continues to reflect Canadian interests, values and priorities. The Government has made a concerted effort to engage in an open and informed dialogue with Canadian stakeholders through a range of consultation and outreach mechanisms and strategies, which are described below.

Trade Policy Consultation and Outreach Mechanisms and Strategies ¹

To assist elected officials with their obligation to inform and exchange views with their constituents on public policy issues, the Government of Canada ensures that the Canadian Parliament is fully informed and consulted about the FTAA negotiations. The Minister for International Trade as well as senior government officials are regularly invited to appear at hearings of relevant Senate and House Committees on the state of Canada’s trade policies, programs and proposals. Since the launch of the FTAA negotiations in 1998, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SCFAIT) has already conducted three studies (in 1999, 2001 and 2002) related to the FTAA. The SCFAIT reports were prepared after extensive public testimonies and they provide valuable direction and guidance to Canada’s trade negotiations. The Government Response to the latest of these Reports, entitled “Strengthening Canada’s Economic Links with the Americas”, was tabled in the House of Commons in October 2002 and is available to the public on the Trade Negotiations and Agreement website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: <http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/documents/FTAArep-e.pdf>. Canadian parliamentarians also participate in information sessions and roundtable discussions.

Provinces and Territories:

Although the exclusive responsibility of the Federal Government, trade agreements and dispute settlements increasingly address areas of provincial jurisdiction and require provincial implementation. Provincial and territorial governments are fully consulted on the identification of issues, development of strategies and positions during the preparations for and during the course of negotiations. The Federal Government maintains a close relationship with the provinces and territories in the area of international trade policy by means of a variety of different mechanisms. Federal, provincial and territorial officials participate in the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Trade (C-Trade) which meets at least quarterly in order to exchange information, share perspectives and develop Canadian positions on a range of international trade policy issues, including negotiations. In addition to these regular meetings, Canadian Ministers responsible for trade as well as Deputy Ministers meet roughly once a year to develop further the cooperative relationship that exists with provinces and territories in trade policy, to update them on recent developments and to discuss further cooperation on key issues. The Government of Canada also maintains restricted federal-provincial-territorial websites, and schedules numerous conference calls with provinces/territories to facilitate the sharing of documents and current information.

Municipalities have expressed a growing interest in promoting increased trade and investment opportunities for their communities, and, more recently, in trade policy issues. Over the past year, the Government of Canada has been working hard to address the concerns of municipalities. A joint Government of Canada/Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) working group was established in November 2001. The working group provides an opportunity for information exchange, to hear the views of local governments through the FCM and build mutual understanding on issues of common interest. Further information on the relationship between the Government of Canada and Canadian municipalities with respect to trade negotiations and agreements can be found at: <http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/fcM-e.asp>.

Since its launch in May 1999, the TNA website has been critical to the Government of Canada’s capacity to meet demands for greater information and public participation regarding Canada’s international trade agenda. The FTAA section of the TNA website (www.ftaa.gc.ca <http://www.ftaa.gc.ca>) provides Canadians with accessible, accurate, reliable and up-to-date information on the FTAA negotiations. It includes, inter alia, the draft consolidated FTAA negotiating text, Canada’s positions and proposals, frequently asked questions (FAQs), an information kit, a list of key government contacts, and consultation notices. Interested parties are encouraged to visit this website and send their comments to the Government on an ongoing basis. Recently, Canadians have been invited to submit their views on the FTAA market access negotiations for agricultural and non-agricultural goods, on government procurement, and on Canada’s Strategic Environmental Assessment of the FTAA. Moreover, Canada publicly released via this website its market access offers on services, investment and government procurement, as well as a summary of its market access offers for agricultural and non-agricultural goods.

In addition to the TNA website, and in keeping with its commitment to finding new and innovative ways to consult with and engage Canadians on public policy issues, the Government has created a single-window access to a listing of consultations from selected government departments and agencies. The “Consulting Canadians” pilot site can be accessed through the following link: <http://www.consultingcanadians.gc.ca>. The Government is also making greater use of Communications Canada’s customized information services, including free-of-charge 1-800 numbers and linkages via the Canada Site portal (www.canada.gc.ca <http://www.canada.gc.ca>). While it encourage the use of new technologies to reach Canadians, the Government continues to use the official Canada Gazette, as an instrument of public record, to post notices with a view to inform and elicit citizen’s comments on trade-related issues of importance to them.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, in partnership with other government departments and agencies, holds periodic information and consultation sessions with business and industry associations, NGOs and public interest groups; and the academic community to address issues of interest to a broad spectrum of Canadians, to which the Minister and the Deputy Minister for International Trade often participate, as well as parliamentarians engaged on the issues. The most recent multistakeholder consultation on the FTAA was held in Ottawa on 27 February 2003 and was Chaired by Mr. John Godfrey, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Inter-American Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) Working Group on the FTAA. A full report of this session can be viewed at <http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/tna-nac/FTAA/multitask-report-en.asp>.

Established in 1986, the Sectoral Advisory Groups on International Trade (SAGITs) are comprised of senior business executives with representation from industry associations, labour/environment, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and academia. Members are appointed for a two-year renewable term by the Minister for International Trade to whom they provide confidential advice on matters pertaining to the Government of Canada’s trade policy agenda. Members serve in their individual capacities and not as representatives of specific entities or interest groups. There are currently ten active SAGITs representing various sectors (Agriculture, Food and Beverage; Apparel and Footwear; Cultural Industries; Energy, Chemicals and Plastics; Environment; Fish and Seafood Products; Information Technologies; Medical and Health Care Products and Services; Services; as well as Textiles, Fur and Leather), which conduct their work via restricted web sites, on conference calls and in face-to-face meetings.

The Academic Advisory Council reports to the Deputy Minister for International Trade and calls together some of the leading Canadian experts on trade and related social and economic development matters for in-depth review of collaborative work and/or analyses that narrow the gaps on issues common to multilateral, bilateral and regional trade agreements and negotiations. Through their expertise and research, the Council has proven useful in contributing to fact-based, rational public discourse.

CARICOM Heads of Government in 1997 adopted the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society, the main objectives of which are to enhance public confidence in governance, to create a truly participatory political environment within the Caribbean Community, to enter the 21^st Century on the basis of the best possible governance and to achieve and sustain that governance by mobilizing action for change. The Charter institutionalized a strong tradition of consultation between CARICOM governments and stakeholders in civil society at the national and regional levels, which dates back to the early days of West Indian Federation in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The Charter, one of several recommendations of the 1992 West Indian Commission Report - Time for Action, was itself the result of some fourteen months of national consultations in individual CARICOM Member States with a wide range of stakeholders to develop a strategic approach to re-positioning the Caribbean in the Community of sovereign states. In making its recommendations, the Commission noted that ‘Integration inevitably involves inter-governmental negotiation and decision-making; but it is not the preserve of Governments alone. People need to be drawn into the process’.

The Charter provides the platform for strengthened dialogue with members of civil society at the national level and in the various organs of the Community, namely the Conference of Heads of Government, the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), and the Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP), in order to engage major stakeholders on matters of trade policy, social policy and the overall development of the Community.

Heads of Governments of the 15 CARICOM Member States convened in Georgetown, Guyana in July 2002, together with representatives of non-governmental organizations from the region to engage in consultations aimed at strengthening the involvement of Civil Society in the different processes in which the region is involved, in particular the program of regional integration in the context of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The Civil Society ‘Forward Together Conference’, facilitated dialogue in the context of three Working Groups on:

(i) Human Resource Development with Equity, including issues in relation to Gender, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Migration and the Diaspora;

(ii) Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) - Capital Investment and requirements for competitiveness; and

(iii) Governance and Participation

Besides agreeing on several broad principles for strengthening the relationships between Caribbean Heads of Government and national governments and the Civil Society, the Conference agreed to institutionalize the Forward Together Process in the form of triennial engagements between the Civil Society and the Heads of Government, and established a Task Force comprising a small representative group of the Civil Society, coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat, to develop a comprehensive regional strategic framework for carrying forward the main recommendations of the Forward Together Conference.

The CARICOM Secretariat has also organized several consultations at the national level throughout the Community on the various aspects of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. Similar consultations have been held with general and legal interest groups on the role and functions of the Caribbean Court of Justice, an integral part of the Community. Youth Parliaments with various partners in individual Member States have also permitted Youth groups to assist in defining regional priorities for youth development.

In this general process of consultation, the private sector continues to play an important role in shaping regional trade policy in the context of the COTED, which oversees the functioning of internal market arrangements as well as external trade relations. Other social sector groups - labor, youth and women - participate in meetings of COHSOD which is charged with establishing policies and programs to promote the development and improvement of education, culture, health services, labor and industrial relations, youth, women and sports, in the Community. Business, labor and civil society groups also participate in the regular annual meetings of the Conference of Heads of Government and are provided an opportunity to make statements on their priority areas.

The Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) was formed in 1997 to co-ordinate CARICOM’s participation in the several negotiating theatres in which the region is involved, and to develop a cohesive trade negotiating strategy to ensure that CARICOM countries derive the maximum benefits possible from major international trade negotiations. In pursuit of its mandate, the CRNM has developed and implemented a Communication and Partnership Strategy (CPS), which links the CRNM with its stakeholders in the private sector, labor unions and the NGO community and facilitates the exchange of information on negotiation issues as well as technical inputs into the negotiations. The RNM Update, a monthly trade publication, is one of the main products of the CPS, which disseminates information on developments within the various negotiating theatres in which CARICOM Member States are involved.

One of the strategic objectives of the CRNM is to develop a framework and overall structure that will increase the effectiveness of the process through which negotiation strategies are formulated and negotiating arrangements organized and coordinated. In this regard, the CRNM has established Technical Working Groups in several of the negotiating disciplines in which the region is involved. The TWGs, coordinated by the CRNM in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat, are comprised of specialists drawn from Member States, the regional and sub-regional Secretariats, other specialized regional institutions, regional private sector organizations, labor, and the University of the West Indies and provide a forum for consultation and the formulation of negotiating strategies and proposals for clearance by COTED and final endorsement by the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on External Negotiations and ultimately by the Heads of Government. The TWGs provide an indispensable mechanism for technical consultation particularly in the context of the FTAA negotiations, and provide the facility for dissemination and exchange of information with the private sector and civil society in general on developments within the negotiations.

Importantly, the quality of feedback from civil society is inexorably linked to the accurate dissemination of information. This necessarily implies the need for a reliable and informed media, which would be used as the machinery through which civil society is informed and actively encouraged to offer a critical analysis and to publicly air their views on the current trade policy agenda. To this end, the CRNM in collaboration with CIDA and the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), a regional umbrella NGO, facilitated a workshop for Caribbean Media workers in Montego Bay, Jamaica from June 30th to July 1st aimed at sensitizing senior members of the Caribbean print and electronic media on current trade policy issues in the context of the FTAA, the WTO and in the context of the negotiations between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (EU-ACP).

There have been several requests for more education and awareness programs at both the national and regional levels to ensure meaningful engagement and in-depth critical analysis by all stakeholders of the results of trade negotiations and the likely impact on human and social development. The RNM will convene a similar consultation with labor unions in November and is moving towards developing a platform for communication and exchange of information with the private sector and civil society in general.

Trade policy and non-governmental actors
International trade policy has been at the heart of Chile’s economic development. Given the relatively small size of the internal market, the country’s economic growth potential is directly linked to the successful application of the export development model, since foreign trade accounts for more than 50 percent of GDP, and exceeds 70 percent if the services sector is included. It is in this context that Chile has negotiated trade agreements with its main trading partners. For the trade agreements to make sense, have political legitimacy in the medium and long term, and contribute to the general prosperity of the country, negotiators must take proper steps to gather the proposals and concerns of civil society on topics being negotiated and provide information on the negotiation process.

In all of its trade negotiations, Chile has held ongoing consultations with the business sector with a view to detecting and accurately interpreting the sensitivities and interests of the different production sectors, which are then incorporated into the offers and the negotiations, especially with regard to tariffs and rules of origin. Beginning in the mid-nineties, other sectors were also incorporated into the negotiation process, when the General Directorate of International Economic Relations (Dirección General de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales - DIRECON by its Spanish acronym) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began a dialogue with different civil society organizations (academics, professional associations, labor unions, and NGOs) on the international economic negotiations.

Initiatives for dialogue and participation
This dialogue began with the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Chile and Canada (1995-1996), which coincided with the signing of both environmental and labor cooperation agreements. The dialogue gained momentum with the commencement of the FTAA negotiations and the work of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society, and again on the eve of the Seattle Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization.

In 2000, with the government of President Lagos already in place and a new emphasis on the need for dialogue with civil society at all levels of government, pursuant to the Presidential Decree on the matter, there were renewed calls for FTAA meetings to be held. A more extensive call was issued, a greater number of announcements appeared in the newspapers, more public activities were undertaken by the authorities, more information was made available on the FTAA negotiation process, and increased joint initiatives were organized with interested sectors of civil society.

Information and transparency in the electronic media
Special mention must be made of DIRECON’s web site, www.direcon.cl <http://www.direcon.cl>. According to the 2003 First Quarter Report on visits to this site, it was confirmed that not only is it an increasingly used tool, but it also surpassed the previously-recorded number of 1,400,000 hits, reaching a total of 1,676,855 hits in April. In June, the month in which the FTA with the United States was signed, the number of hits reached the two million mark, which is a testimony to the interest that these negotiations have stirred in a country of barely 15 million inhabitants. With regard to the massive use of this communication tool, it should be noted that the average monthly number of hits on Chilean government web sites is 500,000, with the most-visited pages being those on International Economic Agreements and Foreign Trade Agreements. There is a definite institutional profile on which searches are conducted, as indicated by the words most often used to access the web. The “Civil Society” section stands out as the most visited, thereby reinforcing the importance of information in the political management of foreign trade.

Training of non-governmental sectors
Training in the different sectors-businesses, trade unions, NGOs, communication media-is a key task, since participation must be informed in order to have impact and be effective. Training is especially relevant in those sectors that do not have the technical tools to address matters relating to international negotiations, such as trade union organizations and representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises. Information and training is necessary so that these sectors can act as informed interlocutors of the negotiating teams. Another key area is that of training for journalists and other communications media professionals, since this work will, in turn, reach the general public.

Open invitations
In this context, in 1999, the Government of Chile issued the first open invitation of the FTAA Civil Society Committee, in letters addressed to different institutions and non-governmental organizations and through the press and its web pages. It invited civil society organizations to submit written presentations on FTAA topics. During 2001 and 2002, a total of four open invitations were issued on the occasion of the FTAA negotiations, and the negotiations with the European Union and the United States. The FTAA open invitation has since become a permanent one.

The response to these open invitations has been very satisfactory and contributions continue to be submitted by a wide variety of actors: professional associations, business associations, specific industries, trade union organizations, indigenous organizations and NGOs.

Several conditions must be satisfied for these invitations to have meaning and result in real participation: a) the public must have information on the topics on which it is invited to comment; b) a joint effort between negotiators and different sectors of civil society will result in more and better contributions; and c) contributions must be properly considered and processed by the negotiators so that the public can see the usefulness of this exercise and continue submitting their contributions.

Seminars
The usual, but no less effective, practice has been to conduct various seminars, some of which are organized jointly with trade union organizations or other civil society entities, in both Santiago and the regions, which aim to deliver the greatest amount of information possible on the negotiations and which receive contributions and comments. Proper organization in conjunction with non-governmental actors is key to being able to truly address the concerns and expectations of the public and to ensuring the ultimate success of the event. Sufficient space must be given in the program to include government and civil society representatives and encourage real dialogue. These activities have been carried out with business and trade union organizations, professional associations, different interest groups, academic bodies and NGOs.

The “side room”
The “side room” refers to the presence of non-governmental sectors in the vicinity of the negotiations venue so that they can be informed and consulted during the negotiations.

In the case of the FTA with the United States, for the first time in a negotiation of this kind, three “side rooms” (for businesspersons, trade unions, and small and medium-sized businesses) were set up so that the different sectors could be informed and consulted throughout the successive negotiating rounds. After the negotiation itself, this process continues with the dissemination of the contents of the agreements and the opportunities they open for the different sectors.

Horizontal dialogue entities
It should also be mentioned that among the instruments adopted to achieve greater transparency in matters relating to foreign trade and international negotiations is a Ministerial Advisory Council comprising representatives of different political and professional sectors, including parliamentarians, who have submitted their different points of view on the international trade negotiations, without prejudice to the execution of the constitutional formalities required by law.

Principal tools for consultation and participation
In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of the following mechanisms for fostering consultation and participation: the permanent invitation to all members of the public to submit their points of view, concerns and interests to the negotiators; keeping the different sectors of civil society informed about the course, possible impacts and results of the negotiations by posting information on methods of communication, seminars and workshops on the organization’s web page; establishing “side rooms” during negotiations for representatives of the main sectors that may be impacted; and taking steps to institutionalize the mechanisms for consultation and participation.

INTERACTION OF THE MINISTRY WITH THE NEGOTIATING TEAM

The public sector, the private sector, and academia are cooperating with the negotiating team in the following way:

The Public Sector - Presidential Directive 09 of 2002 sets out the general guidelines for devising Colombia's negotiating position in the FTAA negotiations and determines the role that state entities represented on the negotiating team are to have in that process. The different state entities participate in negotiation-related topics, with each one focusing on its own area of expertise. The Directive sets forth that public entities involved in the negotiations should give priority to such negotiations and provide all institutional support necessary to allow their officials to attend the respective national and international meetings.

The Private Sector - The negotiating team is assisted by private sector representatives appointed by manufacturers associations for the negotiations. The private sector created an internal coordination agency through the Inter-Association Foreign Trade Committee (Comité Intergremial del Comercio Exterior, or CICEX), which attends all meetings convened by the Ministry on each negotiating topic.

Academia and Research Centers - Academic and research centers that support the trade negotiations in which Colombia is engaged are taking part so as to broaden the scope of participation in negotiations of particular interest to domestic producers and the community at large. Academic and research centers are to contribute to the formulation of an overall strategy and analyze and disseminate information on the development and progress of the negotiations in the different areas, so as to encourage an entrepreneurial mindset among young people and students generally. Each university was assigned a specific topic and was contracted to carry out specific tasks.

Interaction with the members of the three components of the negotiating team takes place through meetings that are periodically convened by the Ministry. In these meetings, the private sector finds an ongoing channel for dialogue. Prior to each FTAA negotiating group meeting, the Ministry convenes representatives of the private sector, public sector, and academia to discuss and evaluate Colombia's position at the negotiating table.

Likewise, meetings are convened after each meeting of the negotiating groups to inform the public, private, and academic sectors of the results and to exchange ideas on the evolution of the different negotiating positions.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, as coordinator of the international trade negotiations in which Colombia is taking part, has made a priority, throughout the negotiations, of using all available tools to provide ample information on the negotiating process through which the FTAA is to be created.

The Ministry has, thus, participated in the most important private forums, such as those periodically organized by the National Association of Financial Institutions (ANIF), the National Manufacturers Association (ANDI), the National Foreign Trade Association (ANALDEX), as well as in different congresses and association and union forums, and at various universities. At these events, the Ministry has informed the private sector of the progress and the scope of negotiations. In addition to supporting the research work carried by the universities within the framework of the negotiating team, the Ministry has worked closely with these institutions in other ways since it considers them an important bridge for raising awareness on the FTAA.

The dissemination activities that have been carried out are intended to sensitize and educate civil society so that it will become involved in these important negotiations through interaction with the Ministry.

The dissemination activities organized by the Ministry include:

1. An important effort to ensure that our Webpage, and particularly the section on the FTAA, is as informative as possible; to this end we have included:

• Thirty-three Frequently Asked Questions, with the corresponding answers;

• Figures showing the importance of the FTAA in the world and for Colombia;

• All derestricted documents from the different negotiating groups, as well as publications and databases prepared by the Tripartite Committee and posted on the FTAA’s official Webpage;

• Links to all the pages of entities of the countries in the hemisphere responsible for FTAA-related issues;

• Space for civil society to make suggestions on additional information that it would like to see posted in this section.
  

2. In 2002, the Ministry, along with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Confecámaras), gave seminars on the topic in seven of the largest cities in the country: Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Pereira, and Manizales. In conjunction with the Higher Institute of Public Administration (ESAP), the Ministry gave the same seminar in seven other departmental capitals: Cúcuta, Paste, Leticia, San Andrés, Santa Martín, Ibagué, and Armenia. Cities not covered in these seminars in 2002 were included during the Exporters' Weeks organized by the Ministry.²

For this year, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism has planned Entrepreneurs’ Weeks and Exporters’ Weeks in 20 cities throughout the country, where conferences and workshops on the FTAA are scheduled.

3. We have contacted public entities, the Federal Congress, the private sector, and academic institutions, asking them to place links to the Ministry's FTAA information page on their Internet pages. Likewise, the Ministry of Foreign Trade³ ran a television commercial at the beginning of last year, and the air time of “Civic Code of Signal Colombia” was used to broadcast information on the FTAA.
    

4. On 23 May 2002 a Seminar titled “Effects of the FTAA on Colombia's Economy” was held, thanks to the technical cooperation granted by ALADI in response to the Ministry of Foreign Trade's efforts to train the negotiating team.
    

5. On 10 and 11 December 2002, in Lima, Peru, a Seminar-Workshop was held for civil society actors and representatives from Andean Community member countries, to publicize the FTAA negotiations and provide information on them. The IDB funded the participation of the speakers and of ten civil society representatives from each Andean Community member country. Colombia was represented by the Colombian Universities Association, the Universidad Externado de Colombia, the Natura Foundation, the Pro-Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Foundation, the Colombian Consumer Federation, the National Movement for the Human Rights of Afro-Colombian Communities (Cimarrón), the Colombian Federation of Municipalities, and the Unitary Workers Federation (CUT).
    

6. The Ministry has held information and opinion-sharing meetings with unions. The Ministry also accepted an invitation from the General Federation of Democratic Workers (CGTD) and the National Institute of Social Studies (INES) to take part in a panel discussion of the negotiations, along with a large number of trade unionists.
    

7. The Ministry's reports to the Colombian Congress over the last four years have included a section on the negotiations describing in detail the current status of the process and its evolution. Likewise, events have been organized with some members of Congress to exchange information on the process.
    

8. On 9 December 2002, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade conducted a videoconference that was transmitted in the head offices of the National Learning Service (SENA), a government entity, in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Barranquilla. Through the videoconference many public sector, private sector, and academic participants were informed of the progress of the FTAA negotiations, and the concerns expressed by participants from each office were addressed. For 2003, another series of videoconferences will be scheduled, with a view to including a larger segment of civil society and disseminating information on the FTAA to a larger number of persons.
    

9. Each year since 1999, the Ministry has, in conjunction with the business sector, held two Symposiums for Productivity and Competitiveness. The last two symposiums have focused on and made a priority of preparing for the negotiations and the entry into force of the FTAA. The topics covered in these events were as follows:

Likewise, the Eighth Symposium for Productivity and Competitiveness will be held in Bucaramanga on 8 and 9 May of this year. The topic will be “Trade Negotiations: For a More Competitive Country,” and FTAA-related topics will also be addressed.

10. For the month of May 2003, the Ministry has planned an information and discussion seminar on the process in order to inform participants on the latest developments. The Minister of Trade, Industry, and Tourism will participate in the seminar, as will the Minister of Social Protection. Representatives from various civil society sectors will be invited. The sectors represented include: the economy, indigenous groups, the environment, education, social issues, communities, the Raizal indigenous group, women, peasants, black communities, workers, the Church, land, and the Federal Congress.

The government of Costa Rica has, through its Foreign Trade Ministry, set up a formal participation and consultation mechanism, as well as a mechanism for dialogue and information at the national level with the various sectors of civil society for the purpose of discerning the opinions of civil society and defining Costa Rica's position with respect to the FTAA process. The basic principles governing this consultation process are: (a) achieving the broadest participation of the various sectors of civil society in the FTAA process through adequate outreach, information, and consultation mechanisms; and (b) establishing a dialogue with the Costa Rican production sector on market access conditions and other related issues so that full advantage is taken of the commercial opportunities created by the FTAA. This process operates basically on two levels:

FIRST LEVEL

At this level, the mechanism operates through the Foreign Trade Consultative Council, which was created by the Law on Negotiations and the Administration of Free Trade Treaties, Agreements and Instruments of Foreign Trade, of 21 November 2000. The Council is chaired by the Foreign Trade Minister and consists of both public officials and representatives of the private sector.

The Council is responsible for advising the Executive Branch of government on the definition of foreign trade and foreign investment policies and for promoting mechanisms for coordination and cooperation with the private sector so that those policies and trade negotiations are executed. The Council consists of: (a) the Foreign Trade Minister; (b) the Minister of Economics, Industry and Trade; (c) the Minister of Agriculture; (d) the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religion; (e) the President of the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprise, the Chamber of Industry, the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Exporters, the Chamber of Agriculture, the Costa Rican Chamber of Representatives of Foreign Companies, Distributors, and Importers, and the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry; (f) a representative of the National Union of Costa Rican Small- and Medium-Size Farmers (UPANACIONAL); (g) two representatives of organizations of small- and medium-size producers and enterprises; (h) a representative of the National Federation of Consumer Associations (FENASCO); (i) two representatives of consumer organizations, appointed by legitimized organizations; (j) the President of the Development Initiatives Coalition (CINDE); and (k) the General Manager of the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER).

SECOND LEVEL

This level consists of the process of direct consultation with companies, professional associations, and other sectors of civil society, which in turn is divided into various levels and modalities of consultation and outreach:

1. Open invitation: The Foreign Trade Ministry extended an open invitation to interested parties in the official daily 'La Gaceta' No.26 of 7 February 2000 to comment upon the FTAA process either in general or specifically on the regulatory issues under discussion in the process. A mechanism was set up for this purpose to receive and process the observations and consultations received from groups representing society, and a form was drawn up outlining the minimum information requirements for the comments Costa Ricans may wish to make. The comments received were taken into account in the determination of Costa Rica's position in each of the FTAA negotiating groups. The Ministry made this position known on 27 July 2000 at a public event attended by over 400 people, the results of which were later published in the document “Costa Rica en el proceso de ALCA: estado actual y perceptivas” (Costa Rica in the FTAA process: current status and perceptions), which was also published on the Ministry's web site at <http://www.comex.go.cr/publicacion/otros/Alca-estado.pdf>. In August 2002, several documents were published in 'La Gaceta' and the country's main newspapers. These included: “Mecanismo de consulta e información para las negociaciones del Area de Libre Comercio de las Américas” (Consultation and information mechanism for the negotiations of the Free Trade Area of the Americas), which invited participation in the public event being held to launch the consultation process; “Consulta con respecto a las Negociaciones del Area de Libre Comercio de las Américas” (Consultation regarding the Negotiations of the Free Trade Area of the Americas), which was a formal invitation to participate in the consultation process; and “Consultas Públicas paras las Negociaciones del Area de Libre Comercio de las Américas” (Public Consultations for the Negotiations of the Free Trade Area of the Americas), which set out the requirements for receiving comments and the procedures for submitting them.
   

2. Direct consultations with companies and professional associations: in order to complement the above activities, a broad program was arranged for direct consultations on the FTAA process with companies, chambers and associations. In 2002, specific invitations were sent to over 900 companies and around 60 chambers of commerce and sectoral groups for distribution among their members. These chambers represent 39 production subsectors of the agricultural, agro-industrial, and industrial sectors of the country.
   

3. Permanent Connection Point: The Ministry has created an information network called 'Punto de Enlace Permanente' (Permanent Connection Point -PEP by its Spanish acronym) through which anyone can obtain information and inquire about the FTAA at any time. The network currently has around 1,500 users who, on average, receive two weekly bulletins on the progress of the various negotiations underway, including the FTAA process. This mechanism has not only served to provide up-to-date information, but also to receive contributions, comments, and observations from all its users.
   

4. Periodic diffusion of specific information via Internet or electronic mail on markets and the status of the negotiations: A special link on the FTAA consultation process has been made publicly available at the web site “www.comex.go.cr” with information on the FTAA, and specifically, on background information on the process, the results of the ministerial meetings, ministerial summits, notices regarding the receipt of contributions, results of the consultation process, draft FTAA chapters, and a large amount of information from each of the countries that make up the FTAA, which allow those interested to develop informed opinions on the negotiations process. In addition to this, a person has been appointed in the Ministry to handle consultations on the FTAA negotiations. Public events for launching the consultation process have also been held, and a series of media events have been organized for publicity purposes, including press releases, interviews, and exhibitions.
   

5. Dialogue with the Legislative Assembly: a permanent and open dialogue between COMEX and the Legislative Assembly has been established for the duration of the FTAA consultation and negotiation process so that legislators can be kept informed of the progress being made in the process.
   

6. Public events: In order to further knowledge of the FTAA negotiations agenda, the Ministry of Foreign Trade has organized several Foreign Trade Conference Cycles on FTAA issues which have been open to the public.

Regular meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations- These meetings bring together representatives of the highly diverse interests of civil society and the government officials involved in the FTAA negotiations. Any organization may participate in these meetings either by attending them or by sending in written questions or comments on the various negotiation topics. In addition to the written and electronic notifications that are issued, these meetings also serve to inform non-governmental organizations of the various events the FTAA is organizing to encourage the participation of civil society.

Meetings with business organizations- Dialogues are held with the various business organizations that specialize in foreign trade, such as the Coordinating Entity for Foreign Trade Business Organizations (COECE), the Mexican Foreign Trade Council (COMCE), and other Mexican business organizations and companies, with a view to answering queries and ascertaining the needs of the country's various production sectors with regard to the FTAA negotiation process. These business organizations also organize events on the economic and commercial implications of the FTAA, in which the various government officials involved in the negotiations also participate. Similarly, the Mexican Government has invited the business sector to participate in the Business Forums of the Americas.

Meetings with the academic sector- The interest generated by the FTAA negotiation process in the Mexican academic sector has been so great that it has led to the organization of various national and international events by, or with the support of, Mexican universities and institutes of higher education, and these have also been attended by various government officials involved in the negotiations.

Organization of the North American Regional Seminar- On 18 July 2002, the governments of Mexico, the United States and Canada, jointly organized the Seminar “The FTAA: Opportunities and Challenges for North America” in the city of Merida, Mexico, with a view to discovering the general public's opinion of the FTAA negotiations in areas such as: market access, agriculture, investment, services, and transparency. Government representatives and members of civil society from the three countries participated. A summary of this seminar is included in the Third Report of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society, posted on the official FTAA web site (www.ftaa-alca.org).

Meeting with Hemispheric Civil Society- The Meeting with Hemispheric Civil Society, “Progress in the FTAA Negotiations”, was held in Puebla, on 8 April 2003, in parallel with the Thirteenth Meeting of the FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee. This event was attended by the co-chairs of the FTAA negotiation process, chairs of negotiating groups and technical committees, government representatives, and representatives of various non-governmental organizations and the academic sector. The conclusions and recommendations of the discussion groups were submitted by the moderators to the Vice Ministers attending the TNC meeting.

The dissemination of information through the Internet- Civil society now has access to a large volume of information on the FTAA through the web page of the Secretariat of the Economy (www.economia.gob.mx): negotiation texts, general principles, negotiation methods and modalities, summit meetings, ministerial declarations, publications and databases, presentations, meeting schedules, works published by the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society, access to the FTAA web site, etc.

In its desire to inform on and publicize the status of international negotiations and their achievements, Paraguay seeks to empower existing entities, such as the MERCOSUR Joint Parliamentary Commission (Comisión Parlamentaria Conjunta del MERCOSUR); the MERCOSUR Socio-Economic Consultative Forum (Foro Consultivo Económico y Social del MERCOSUR); the National Council on Trade and Integration (Consejo Nacional de Comercio e Integración - CONACIN by its Spanish acronym), and other future projects that are to be implemented with a view to creating an expeditious way for fulfilling the tasks at hand.

- CONACIN’s predecessor was the “National Council on Foreign Trade”, established in 1962, which, in turn, broadened the scope of the former “Free Trade Zone National Council” of 1960. Although broader in scope than both its predecessors, CONACIN also seeks to promote foreign trade and integration, by directing Paraguay's foreign policy in keeping with current demands.

To better fulfill its mission, the Council works as a standing, high-ranking, group that discusses action lines at the national level, while seeking to meet the joint expectations of the government and civil society, to establish strategies that will help the nation both in matters related to international negotiations and the definition of national trade and integration guidelines.

- At the “Socioeconomic Consultative Forum”, in its capacity as the agency that channels private sector projects and proposals within MERCOSUR’s institutional structure, progress was made in the discussions on strengthening dialogue between socioeconomic sectors and society in general. All issues of substantial interest to civil society are studied within this forum.

One of the top priorities for Paraguay’s foreign policy is to establish a permanent mechanism to consult with the Legislative and the Executive Branches in order to promote joint strategies that will strengthen the country’s position in foreign negotiations, taking into account the significant role played by inter-institutional coordination for the effective incorporation of the legal rules generated by the negotiation process in the country’s national legislation. In this regard, it has been deemed important that Parliament and the Government act jointly, particularly in legal matters, through internal implementation of a mechanism to coordinate permanent joint actions that examine legislative bills drafted by MERCOSUR and the FTAA, with the understanding that most of them will be incorporated into the national body of laws through legislative means.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Undersecretariat of Economic Relations and Integration, has trained a group of its officers to create a corps of technical monitors to be in charge of disseminating information on the status of Paraguay’s participation in international negotiations. The following is a summary of the main events in which both monitors and various public and private entities have participated.

- Panel-Debate “The FTAA and its socioeconomic impact in Paraguay”. Held on 17 July 2003; with approximately 150 participants from the following non-governmental organizations: Campaign for Citizens Expression; Documentation and Study Center; Human Rights Coordinator of Paraguay; Bank Workers Federation; Community Development Institute; Peasant Associations; Workers Central Union; and the National Social Pastoral Organization.

- International Seminar”: “FTAA and MERCOSUR: Complementary projects?” Held on 17 July 2003; with approximately 100 participants; organized by the Center for Examination and Dissemination of Information on the Paraguayan Economy and the MERCOSUR network.

- Seminars: “MERCOSUR and the FTAA: Challenges and perspectives for Paraguay.” Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), held in both the capital and other parts of the country. These gatherings were attended by civil society representatives from different departments in Paraguay:

1. Encarnación, 1 August 2002, 280 participants;
2. Asunción, 5 August 2002, 148 participants;
3. Pedro Juan Caballero, 8 August 2002, 268 participants;
4. Asunción, 12 August 2002, 120 participants;
5. Asunción, 14 August 2002, 67 participants;
6. Asunción, 19 August 2002, 97 participants;
7. Ciudad del Este, 22 August 2002, 138 participants;
8. Luque, 26 August 2002, 219 participants;
9. Caaguazu, 19 August 2002, 114 participants;
10. Asunción, 2 September 2002, 30 participants;
11. Pilar, 12 September 2002, 189 participants;
12. Coronel Oviedo, 19 September 2002, 332 participants;
13. Asunción, 4 October 2002, 38 participants;
14. Caacupé, 9 October 2002, 300 participants;

PERU