Washington, D.C. - Today representatives of the United States and the Government of Peru convened the first meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA). Mara Burr, Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for Environment and Natural Resources, co-chaired with Dr. Willem H. Brakel, Acting Director of the Office of Environmental Policy, [Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs,] Department of State, the EAC meeting for the United States. The U.S. delegation included representatives from other agencies, including the Forest Service.
At the EAC meeting, officials discussed implementation of the PTPA's Environment Chapter and Annex on Forest Sector Governance, and how to ensure proper monitoring of implementation of, and compliance with, Chapter and Annex obligations. Both governments acknowledged the progress and collaborative work that has taken place since entry into force of the PTPA.
Representatives of the U.S. Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee participated in the meeting to discuss the role and functioning of the committee and to exchange views on improving transparency, public participation and public knowledge of trade and environmental policy issues.
Representatives of Peru provided an overview of the dialogue table process initiated by the government in August 2009 aimed at creating a new consensus-based Forestry and Wildlife Law.
BACKGROUND
The United States and Peru signed the PTPA on April 12, 2006. The Peruvian Congress ratified the Agreement in June 2006 and a Protocol of Amendment in June 2007. On December 14, 2007, the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act became law and the PTPA entered into force on February 1, 2009. Article 18.6 of the Environment Chapter of the PTPA established the Environmental Affairs Council.
