LIMA – On February 13-14, the United States and Peru (the Parties) held meetings of the Environmental Affairs Council (Council) and the Sub-Committee on Forest Sector Governance (Sub-Committee) under the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) in Lima, Peru. The U.S. delegation was led by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of State, with participation from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Agency for International Development, and U.S. Department of the Interior. The Peru delegation was led by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) and the Ministry of Environment (MINAM), with participation from the National Forestry and Wildlife Service, Forest and Wildlife Monitoring Agency, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the Council meeting, the Parties shared their respective efforts to implement the PTPA Environment chapter commitments, including actions to strengthen environmental protection, effectively enforce environmental laws, and promote public participation in environmental decision-making. The Parties also discussed efforts to fight climate change and support more resource efficient and circular economies, and affirmed a shared interest to continue to exchange information and collaborate on efforts to address these challenges.
The Council also received updates from the Secretariat for Environmental Enforcement Matters (SEEM) on active public submissions and recent factual records. The submissions process is a cornerstone of public participation within the PTPA Environment Chapter. To date, the SEEM has received eight submissions, including four new submissions since the last Council meeting in November 2022, relating to air quality and climate change, forest concessions in Indigenous reserves, environmental management of the agriculture sector, and amendments to the law for the protection of Indigenous People in isolation.
Following the Council meeting, the Sub-Committee reviewed implementation of the PTPA Annex on Forest Sector Governance, including efforts to strengthen forest sector governance, conduct periodic audits of producers and exporters, and implementation actions under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States also raised concerns with the recent amendments to the Wildlife and Forestry Law and noted continued analysis of the recent amendments in light of the PTPA obligations. Additionally, USTR continues to monitor Peru’s implementation of its Annex commitments.
The Council and Sub-Committee also held a public session on February 14 that benefitted from participation by a wide range of civil society and private sector representatives. The public session reflected both Parties’ commitment to maintaining an open, inclusive, and participatory dialogue and process regarding PTPA implementation. The session also provided an opportunity for members of the public to offer comments and ask questions, both in person and online. The participant comments represented a wide range of views, including comments and perspectives from Peru’s environmental advocates and Indigenous communities.
Learn more about the work of USTR’s Office of Environment and Natural Resources.
Learn more about the work of the U.S. State Department of Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
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