introduction
The Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), together with the National Commission for Protection of Competition (CONACOM) of Paraguay, and with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Paraguay, held the IX Annual Meeting of the Working Group on Trade and Competition of Latin America and the Caribbean (WGTC) in Asunción, Paraguay, on 3 and 4 October 2019.
Final report
Background
Through a joint convocation made by the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), regional seminars on trade and competition in Latin America and the Caribbean were conducted in April 2009 and May 2010 in Caracas and Brasilia, respectively. Both meetings were attended by authorities in charge of trade and competition of the Member States of SELA, as well as officials of UNCTAD and other multilateral organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO).
As a result of the meeting held in Brazil, SELA Member States recommended the Latin American Council to create the Working Group on Trade and Competition of Latin America and the Caribbean (WGTC). Decision N° 519 of the XXXVI Regular Meeting of the Latin American Council of SELA, in October 2010, formally supported the creation of the WGTC, whose Secretariat was made up of the Permanent Secretariat of SELA and the General Secretariat of UNCTAD, as Executive Secretariat and Technical Secretariat, respectively.
The First Meeting of the WGTC was carried out in Bogota in July 2011, with the purpose of confirming and strengthening the Working Group as a unique regional forum of authorities in charge of trade and competition for cooperation, consultation and coordination in that field at the regional level.
The II Meeting was held in Lima, Peru, in June 2012, with the discussion of the terms of competition contained in regional agreements on trade integration, government procurement and its relationship with competition, as well as the challenges posed by cross-border anti-competitive practices for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The III Meeting, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in September 2013, focused on trade and competition in the energy and hydrocarbons market, institutional capacity-building, competition policy in the sector of telecommunications, the benefits from the competition policy in the provision of goods and services, the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), inter-institutional cooperation, and recent legislative reforms in the area of trade and competition in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The IV Meeting took place in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in November 2014. The issues discussed were as follows: Litigations of Latin American and Caribbean countries in the WTO and the underlying issues regarding competition policy, trade and competition in the foodstuff market, collusion and transparency in government procurement, air transport and communication means as strategic tools for the promotion of competition, competition policy and trade facilitation measures, as well as a space devoted to the discussion on the future of the WGTC.
The V Annual Meeting of the Working Group was held from 2 to 4 December 2015 in the city of Manta, Ecuador. And for the first time, the meeting discussed how to deal with the interaction between trade and competition policies in the context of Latin American and Caribbean integration, with the participation of representatives of regional and subregional integration mechanisms.
The VI Annual Meeting of the WGTC was conducted from 2 to 4 November 2017 on the island of Roatán, Honduras. It discussed the harmonization of regulatory frameworks in the area of trade and competition within the subregional integration mechanisms in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the treatment of dumping pursuant to trade and competition laws.
The VII Annual Meeting of the Working Group took place in San Salvador, El Salvador. It dealt with issues related to the digital economy, and how to cope with non-tariff barriers and their impact on competition in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The VIII Annual Meeting of the Working Group was held in Brasilia, Brazil, in October 2018, with the purpose of analyzing the importance and impact of maritime transport, infrastructure and port services on trade and competition in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Objectives
Analyze the interaction of trade and competition policies to promote technological innovation and productive transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Agenda
Thursday, 3 October 2019
|
Morning |
|
|
8:30 – 9:00 |
REGISTRATION |
| 9:00 – 9:20 |
OPENING SESSION
|
| 9:20 – 10:30 |
SESSION I: Presentation of the study prepared by SELA: “Trade and competition policies to drive innovation and productive transformation: Opportunities and challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean” Moderator: Silvia Hernández Rada, Analyst of Relations, Direction of Relations for Integration and Cooperation, SELA The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.
|
| 10:30 -10:45 |
Official photo |
| 10:45 – 11:00 |
Coffee break |
|
11:00 – 12:45 |
SESSION II: Challenges and opportunities for cooperation. the role of integration in LAC projects Moderator: Lautaro Ramírez, National University of La Plata, WTO Chair The presentations by speakers will be followed by a question and answer session.
|
|
12:45 – 14:30 |
Lunch |
|
Afternoon |
|
|
14:30 - 15:30 |
SESSION III: Productive transformation, trade and competition policy. Sectoral experiences Moderator: Valentina Delich, SELA’s Consultant The presentations by speakers will be followed by a question and answer session.
|
|
15:40 – 15:50 |
Coffee break |
| 15:40 - 17:00 |
SESSION IV: Institutional and practical ways of trade and competition agencies to promote and achieve productive transformation Moderator: Santiago Bofferon, Partner, Peroni Sosa Tellechea Burt & Narvaja The presentation by speakers will be followed by a question and answer session.
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, 4 October 2019 |
|
|
Morning |
|
|
9:00 – 09:30 |
SESSION V:PRESENTATION OF STUDY PREPARED BY UNCTAD: "INTERACTION BETWEEN COMPETITION AND INNOVATION POLICIES” The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.
|
|
09:30 – 10:30 |
SESSION VI. Innovation, a necessary activity for development, productivity improvement and competitiveness of economies: implementation issues and public policies for its promotion Moderator: Juan Luis Crucelegui, Head of Capacity Building and Consulting Services of the Department of Competition and Consumer Policies, UNCTAD
The presentation by speakers will be followed by a question and answer session. |
|
10:30 – 11:00 |
Coffee break |
|
11:00 – 13:00 |
SESSION VII. “COMPETITION POLICY: DRIVER OF INNOVATION” Moderator: Rolando Díaz, Member of the Directorate of CONACOM
The presentation by speakers will be followed by a question and answer session. |
|
13:00 – 14:30 |
Free time for lunch |
|
Afternoon |
|
|
14:30 – 15:15 |
Three discussion groups will be organized to discuss a case study and draw conclusions from issues raised around it. |
|
15:30 – 16:00 |
Coffee break |
|
16:00 – 16:45 |
Presentation of conclusions and exchange of results among discussion groups |
|
16:45 – 17:30 |
FUTURE OF THE WGTC Selection of topics and venue for the meeting of the WGTC for 2020. |
|
17:30 |
CLOSING SESSION
|
Logistics
Venue and date
This event will be held on 3 and 4 October 2019 at the Central Bank of Paraguay Institute, located in Federación Rusa between Augusto Roa Bastos and San Rafael streets, Portón 4.
Languages
The official language will be Spanish. There will be no simultaneous interpretation.
Hotels
After sending the registration form duly filled in, the organizers of the event will make arrangements to purchase the air ticket and make the hotel reservation, in accordance with the selected itinerary.
Dress code
Formal attire in suggested for the days of the meeting.
Transport
The National Commission for Protection of Competition (CONACOM) will provide the shuttle service for guests.
Participants
Representatives in charge of the areas of trade and competition in the Member States of SELA, international organizations, experts in the field, and special guests.
Participation in this meeting is subject to the invitations issued by the co-sponsors.
Documents
Background paper
Sistema Económico Latinoamericano y del Caribe (SELA) (2019). Trade and competition policies to promote innovation and productive transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean. IX Reunión Anual del Grupo de Trabajo sobre Comercio y Competencia de América Latina y el Caribe (GTCC). Asunción, Paraguay. 03 y 04 de octubre de 2019. Caracas: SELA. Disponible en: http://www.sela.org/es/centro-de-documentacion/base-de-datos-documental/bdd/62530/trade-and-competition-policies
Information on migration
The information on migration to enter Paraguay can be consulted on the Web page of the General Directorate for Migration:
Contacts
Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), Venezuela.
Coordination by the Permanent Secretariat of SELA:
- Oscar Hernández
Director of Relations for Integration and Cooperation of SELA
Telephones: (+58-212) 955-7111 / 955-7134
E-mail: ohernandez@sela.org - Silvia Hernández
Analyst of Relations
Telephones: (+58-212) 955-7111 / 955-7146
E-mail:shernandez@sela.org
General Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Competition (UNCTAD), Switzerland
- Juan Luis Crucelegui
Head of Capacity-Building and Advisory Services of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, UNCTAD
E-mail: juanluis.crucelegui@unctad.org.
National Commission for Protection of Competition (CONACOM) of Paraguay
- Rolando Díaz Delgado
Member of the Board
National Commission for Protection of Competition
E-mail: rdiaz@conacom.gov.py
- Blanca Garcia
General Coordinator
National Commission for Protection of Competition
Tel.: + 595 21 208 707 / 8
E-mail: bgarcia@conacom.gov.py
