[Ecommerce] FTAA meeting in Panama

[James Love]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Grant" <susang@nclnet.org>
To: "James Love CPT" <love@cptech.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 10:04 AM
Subject: can you post this to your ecommerce group?

Dear Ecommerce colleagues:
The Free Trade Area of the Americas Joint Public/Private Sector Experts
Committee on Ecommerce will be meeting in Panama City, probably in June, to
discuss egovernment -- that is, how government can use the electronic medium
to better serve consumers and businesses.  The purpose of the committee is
not to negotiate trade but to provide helpful information to the economic
ministers from North, Central and South America that are involved in the
trade negotiations. The U.S. delegation is headed by the Department of
Commerce and has members from businesses, academic institutions, the BBB,
the State Dept. and the FTC, and me representing the National Consumers
League.

I participated in the last meeting, which was about consumer protection
issues, but I can't make the egovernment meeting.  I offered to find out if
anyone from another organization was interested and able to go.  The U.S.
government does not pay any of your expenses, but Panama is relatively
inexpensive and I found it to be a much nicer place than I had imagined.
The role of the delegates is to help shape whatever presentations the US
makes -- last time I actually got to make a presentation, but it's quite
possible that you would have no speaking role.  If you are invited to make a
presentation, it is reviewed beforehand by the government, which retains
editorial control.  There is plenty of opportunity to chat with the
delegates from other countries informally.  Last time there were consumer
delegates from Canada, Panama, and Chile.  Don't know if there will be any
this time or from where.

It is important to make sure that consumers are part of the equation because
the delegations, including the US delegation, have multiple representatives
from businesses, and it's possible that the discussion could focus mainly on
their needs unless there are at least some consumer folks in the mix.  Any
people that I suggest to the US would be subject to the DOC's approval.  If
you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible by email or call
me at 202-835-3323.  The US will have a planning meeting sometime in early
May.
Susan Grant, NCL



--------------------
James Love, mailto:james.love@cptech.org, http://www.cptech.org
voice +1.202.387.8030, mobile +1.202.361.3040, fax +1.202.234.5176