Chilean and U.S. Joint Statement: Bilateral Trade

Ambassador Carlos Portales, Director General of Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) opened the meetings that were also attended by Ambassador Cristián Maquieira, Director of Environment, Antarctic and Maritime Affairs (DIMA), Ana Lya Uriarte, Executive Director of the National Commission for the Environment (CONAMA), U.S. Ambassador Craig Kelly and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, Environment and Science, Claudia A. McMurray. Other participating agencies included the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, the General Directorate for International Economic Affairs (DIRECON) in Chile´s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile´s National Forest Corporation, its Council for State Defense, Ministry of Mining, Subsecretariat of Fisheries, and Ministry of Education.

In his opening statement, Ambassador Portales stressed the great importance Chile attaches to its relationship with the United States."In the last couple of years we have been working together in very constructive ways on a wide range of matters including the environment, which has led to a broader understanding between the two countries,” Ambassador Portales said."Chile and the United States share essential principles and interests, particularly with respect to democracy and good governance.” Ambassador Maquieira stated,"These meetings are an essential component of any process contributing to enhancing public participation in environmental decision making.”

Ambassador Kelly noted that ¨the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement is not only about trade, it has had a multiplier effect of increasing corporate social and environmental responsibility.¨ Assistant Secretary McMurray emphasized the important contribution of bilateral environmental cooperation to these common interests, noting that"economic prosperity, democracy and environmental stewardship are mutually reinforcing.” Assistant Secretary McMurray also noted, ¨cooperation under the FTA and supporting bilateral Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) represents an integrated and strategic approach to solving environmental problems together. In the last two years, our work has produced meaningful results, with one project leading to another. ¨

It was the Third Meeting of Environmental Affairs Council held in accordance with Article 19 of the FTA´s Environmental Chapter, and the Second Meeting of the ECA Joint Environmental Cooperation Commission. The FTA Council and the ECA Commission jointly held a public session at which the public commented on the projects and provided input for the 2007-2008 work plan. The meetings evaluated a full range of cooperative efforts undertaken in the last two years under the FTA and the ECA.