Regional Seminar on Trade Relations between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean in the first year of the Obama Administration

and Latin America and the Caribbean in the first year of the Obama Administration

In March 2009, the Regional Seminar on the Economic Relations between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean within the context of global crisis was held in the headquarters of SELA. For this event, the Permanent Secretariat drafted a base document titled “Aspects of the Economic and Trade Policy under the Obama Administration and its Implications for Latin America and the Caribbean”.

According to the conclusions and recommendations agreed upon by the Member States’ representatives attending this seminar, the delegates recognized the need for SELA to continue with the analyses of the economic relations between the U.S. and LAC, as well as the economic policy measures that have been adopted by the U.S. government to face the international crisis and its potential effects on the region. At the same time, the Member States urged the Permanent Secretariat of SELA to continue with the analyses and proposals concerning the regional economic agenda with the United States.

In view of this, during the XXXV Regular Meeting of the Latin American Council – held in Caracas from 27 to 29 October 2009 – the Member States of SELA approved Project III.2 “Economic Relations between the United States and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean”, included in the Work Programme for the year 2010. As part of the activities foreseen in said project, the Member States of SELA have been convened to participate in the Regional Seminar on Trade Relations between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean in the first year of the Obama Administration.


Monday, 22 March 2010 Morning
8:30 am – 9: 00 am	Registration and accreditation
9:00 am – 9: 30 am	Opening ceremony
	Speech by His Excellency Mohammed Ali Odeen Ishmael, Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Chairman of the Latin American Council Speech by Ambassador José Rivera Banuet, Permanent Secretary of SELA
First Session:	Presiding: His Excellency Mohammed Ali Odeen Ishmael, Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Chairman of the Latin American Council
9:30 am – 10:15 am	Presentation of the document drafted by the Permanent Secretariat of SELA titled “Trade Relations between LAC and the U.S. in the first year of the Obama Administration. Balance and prospects”
9:30 am – 10:15 am	Dr. Craig Van Grasstek, SELA’s consultant
10:15 am – 10:45 am	Debate among representatives of the Member States of SELA
10:45 am – 11:00 am	Coffee break
11:00 am – 12:00 m	Prospects of economic relations between LAC and the U.S. according to regional organizations
	Representative of the Executive Secretariat of ECLAC
	Representative of the General Secretariat of ALADI
	Representative of the General Secretariat of ACS
	Representative of the General Director of OECS
12.00 m – 12.30 pm	Debate among representatives of the Member States of SELA
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm	Free time for lunch
*Afternoon*
Second Session:	Presiding: His Excellency Erick Roberto Molina Sandoval, Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala, First Vice-Chairman of the Latin American Council
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm	View on trade policy by the U.S. government towards Latin America and the Caribbean
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm	Representative of the U.S. government
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm	Debate among representatives of the Member States of SELA
3:30 pm – 3:45 pm	Coffee break
3:45 pm – 5:45 pm	Current status and future prospects of trade relations with the U.S. according to some Member States of SELA (I)
	Central America: Representatives of the Republic of El Salvador and the Republic of Panama
	CAN: Representatives of the Republic of Colombia and the Plurinational State of Bolivia
	MERCOSUR: Representatives of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Eastern Republic of Uruguay
5.45 pm – 6:00 pm	Debate among representatives of the Member States of SELA
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm	Cocktail
Tuesday, 23 March 2010 *Morning*
Third Session:	Presiding: His Excellency Jorge Alvarado Rivas, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Ambassador of the Plurinational Republic of Bolivia, Second Vice-Chairman of the Latin American Council
9:00 am – 10:20 am	Current status and future prospects of trade relations with the U.S. according to some Member States of SELA (II)
	ALBA: Representatives of the Republic of Ecuador and the Republic of Nicaragua
	CARICOM: Representatives of Jamaica and Grenada
10:20 am – 10:45 am	Debate among representatives of the Member States of SELA
10:45 am – 11:00 am	Coffee break
11:00 am – 11:40 am	Free trade agreements among the U.S. and LAC countries
	TLCAN: Representative of the government of the United Mexican States
	U.S.-Chile FTA: Representative of the government of Chile
11:40 am – 12:00 m	Debate among representatives of the Member States of SELA
12:00 m – 12:30 pm	Conclusions and recommendations
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm	Closing of the regional seminar Speech by His Excellency Mohammed Ali Odeen Ishmael, Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Chairman of the Latin American Council Speech by Ambassador José Rivera Banuet, Permanent Secretary of SELA

Speakers may submit written documents that will be uploaded in the Web site of the event. Participants can also make additional written contributions for the debates of the seminar.

The Permanent Secretariat will prepare a final report on the seminar and compile all the written contributions by speakers and participants, which will be made available through SELA’s Web page.

Base document prepared by the Permanent Secretariat of SELA for the “Regional Seminar on the Economic Relations between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean within the context of global crisis”, held in the headquarters of SELA, on 31 March 2009

The “Regional Seminar on Trade Relations between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean in the first year of the Obama Administration” will be held in the headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) in Caracas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on 22 and 23 March 2010.

Address: Avenida Francisco de Miranda, Torre Europa, Piso 5, Campo Alegre, Caracas.

The official languages of this seminar will be Spanish and English. There will be simultaneous interpretation.

Participants should make their own reservations in the hotel of his/her preference, informing that they will be attending the Regional Meeting so as to benefit from the preferential rates granted to SELA. In case additional support is required, please contact Mrs. Cora Romero, Travel and Arrangements Official of SELA (Telephones: (58-212) 9557111 and 9557124; Faxes: (58-212) 9516901 and 9515292; e-mail: cromero@sela.org).

Following there is a list of recommended hotels for your security and proximity to SELA’s headquarters, including the preferential rates offered to SELA pursuant to agreements signed to that end (List of Hotels).

For transport from the International “Simón Bolívar” Airport in Maiquetía to Caracas, there is an authorized taxi service at the exit of the airport terminal. Authorized cabs can be easily identified since their colours are black with yellow logotypes printed on the doors of the vehicles.

This authorized taxi service has a cost of approximately Bs.F. 170.00 per travel, payable in national currency (Strong Bolivars).

For your own security, the coordinators of the Seminar Regional recommend you to EXCLUSIVELY use this taxi service. It is possible, upon request, to provide you support in order to reserve in advance such taxi service from the airport. In this case, please send a message to cromero@sela.org.

Except for special cases, currently, entry into the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of tourists of almost all nationalities is allowed. Nevertheless, visas are required for some of them. In those cases, SELA could ask the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for courtesy visas, granted for the participation in official events. This authorized visa is stamped at the Consulates of Venezuela in the countries of origin.

For security purposes, it is recommended that information on migration should be consulted previously by contacting the Embassies and / or Consulates of Venezuela in the countries of origin or downloading the Web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA)