Joint Press Statement: Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA)

This week, representatives from the Governments of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the United States are meeting in Juan Dolio, the Dominican Republic, to consult on projects under the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA), which is a distinct, binding accord that was concluded in parallel with the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).

During the opening ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Hans Hertell said that it is in the interest of all countries to ensure that increased production and trade and better environmental protection go hand in hand. He added that as environmental problems gain attention worldwide, governments, industries, and civil society are acting to help reduce the negative impact of their daily operations on the environment. The CAFTA-DR agreement and the Environmental Cooperation Agreement provide mechanisms that are key to strengthening environmental programs throughout the CAFTA-DR countries and thereby advancing trade and environmental objectives in ways that are mutually supportive.

Ernesto Reyna, the Under Secretary for the Environment in the Dominican Republic, delivered a greeting on behalf of Dr. Max Puig, Secretary of State for the Environment and spokesman for the CAFTA-DR Environment Ministers. In his greeting, Reyna welcomed the presence of the environmental and trade experts of the delegations of the countries of Central America, the United States and the Dominican Republic, highlighting the meeting as an important historic event without precedent for the region, its ecosystem, its natural capital and its respective peoples.

Under Secretary Reyna also stressed “that the Technical Points of Contacts are committed to the implementation of projects that are economically practical and environmentally sustainable. Additionally, they support projects that seek to widen, improve, and reinforce public participation, through the establishment of norms and innovative procedures that guarantee the transparency of that participation.”

In his opening statements, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Environment, Daniel Reifsnyder, emphasized the historic nature of the meeting and explained that never before have parties to a free trade agreement devoted so many resources to environmental cooperation. He also noted that “all of these activities illustrate the positive commitment of the United States to assist our FTA partners’ in strengthening their capacity to protect the environment while free trade helps them grow their economies.”

At the meeting, the parties will consult on cooperative environmental projects in five different areas: (1) institutional strengthening for effective implementation and enforcement of environmental laws; (2) biodiversity and conservation; (3) market-based conservation; (4) private-sector environmental performance; and (5) CAFTA-DR specific obligations.