Noticias

The benefits of the Trade Protocol of the Pacific Alliance Protocols were announced in Chile

Posted on by Administrador Noticias
05
May

Business people from various areas met on May 3 at the Seminar “The enforcement of the Pacific Alliance Protocol: challenges and benefits for Chile”, an event organized by Chile’s National Chamber of Commerce (CNC) with the participation of authorities from Direcon-ProChile and the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC) of that country.

In this context, there was agreement among the participants in pointing out that, besides the tariff relief -in effect since May 1st- cumulation of origin will be one of the most important issues, given that this will not only allow to stimulate the commercial integration between Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, but also the creation of regional value chains. On the other hand, this seeks to further deepen the integration process of the Pacific Alliance, through ties with other markets, particularly the Asia-Pacific market.

“Once the Protocol is enforced, we will decisively support the consolidation of this regional integration initiative to plan its progress, specifically keeping in mind the Asian markets. We will continue to drive these challenges from the pro tempore Presidency of the Pacific Alliance, which will be held by Chile, starting next 1st of July”, said Direcon’s director Andrés Rebolledo during his presentation.

Pablo Urria, DIRECON’s director for Bilateral Economic Affairs, delved into the advantages obtained by Chile in matters of market access. Among other things, he explained that the tax relief programme negotiated in the bilateral agreements entered into with the other three countries shall remain valid, to the extent that the protocol reaches their aperture levels. However, with regard to Mexico, products such as edible oils, milk powder and cheeses will have better conditions within the Pacific Alliance. A similar situation will take place for some products that in Colombia and Peru were subject to price bands but that now will have more opportunities for exportation.

Cumulation of Origin

 During his presentation, ProChile director Roberto Pavia said that, regardless the tariff preferences, one of the Pacific Alliance’s most relevant advantages is that it will allow the cumulation of origin. He explained that unique and simple rules of origin were negotiated, seeking overall both a regional integration and pliability for those cases where consumables are not available among PA members, hoping to encourage regional value chains. On a different subject, the head of ProChile emphasized the close relationship that has been developed among the Pacific Alliance promoting agencies in order to improve integration and identify business options for our business people. “The 4th edition of the Macrorrueda de Negocios (Business Matchmaking) to be held next June in Santiago is an example of it, that will gather more than 600 companies from the four countries, many of them SMEs. It will be the ideal setting to start enjoying the benefits of the coming into effect of the Commercial Protocol, particularly those benefits related to the cumulation of origin”, remarked Pavia.

Lastly, Alberto Salas, president of the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC), drew attention to the contribution of the Pacific Alliance Business Council (CEAP), the body that represents the business people from the four countries, made through the proposal of various subjects aimed to further deepen this integration process.

May 5th, 2016

Noticias

The 35th Meeting of the Pacific Alliance High Level Group was held in Mexico

Posted on by Administrador Noticias
07
Jun

The 35th Meeting of the Pacific Alliance High Level Group was held in Mexico city on July 7, with the attendance of the vice-ministers of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

The main goal of this meeting was to make progress in the review of the “deliverables” related to the fulfillment of the mandates of the Declaration of Paracas 2015, as well as in the drafting of the new mandates, in preparation for the XI Summit to be held in Puerto Varas, Chile.

During the meeting, the High Level Group (GAN) received reports from the Ministries of Finance on the progress and current status of the work plan 2015-2016 contained in Annex II of the Declaration of Paracas; was informed of the status of the recommendations and proposals of the Pacific Alliance Business Council (CEAP); and evaluated the progress of the works of the Technical Groups to date.

In other matters, the GAN met with a representative from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), who submitted the report on the situation status of the cooperation provided by that body to the Pacific Alliance Technical Groups.

Lastly, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade of Chile, Andrés Rebolledo, reported on the preparations for the 11th Summit of the Pacific Alliance to be held from June 28 to July 1 in Puerto Varas, Chile.

The Pacific Alliance is a regional integration initiative formed by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru on April 28, 2011. The countries in this initiative combine a population of 216 million and account for 39% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Latin America and the Caribbean.

 Mexico City, June 7, 2016

Noticias

The 23° round of meetings of the technical groups of the Pacific Alliance started today in Colombia

Posted on by Administrador Noticias
01
Mar

The first session of the 23° round of meetings of the technical groups of the Pacific Alliance started today in Bogota, with the presence of govenment officials of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

The following groups are currently meeting in the headquarters of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Trade, Industry and Tourism of Colombia: External Relations, Movement of People, Communication Strategy, Cooperation, Institutional Affairs, SMEs, Innovation, Gender, Immigration and Security, Foreign Trade Single Windows, Regulatory Cooperation, as well as the Committee of Experts of the Business Council.

In addition, the technical groups of Trade Facilitation and Customs Cooperation, Foreign Trade Single Windows and Authorized Economic Operator are meeting in Cartagena. Activities of these groups include a visit to the city port in order to acquaint themselves with this port´s Simultaneous Inspection System, implemented by Colombia as a means to facilitate foreign trade operations.

With these actions, the Pacific Alliance continues to fulfill the President´s mandates aimed to deepen integration among its four full members.

March 1, 2016

Noticias

Terminó reunión de Coordinadores Nacionales de la Alianza del Pacífico

Posted on by Gabriela Carrasquilla
21
Jul

Alianza del Pacífico (jul. 21/18). Culminó en Puerto Vallarta, México, la reunión de coordinadores nacionales, en el marco de la XIII Cumbre de la Alianza del Pacífico.

En la reunión, los Coordinadores Nacionales revisaron la Declaración de Puerto Vallarta; la Visión Estratégica 2030 de la Alianza del Pacífico; y la declaración AP- Mercosur con su plan de acción.

Adicionalmente, revisaron los preparativos para las reuniones de viceministros y ministros de la XIII Cumbre de la Alianza del Pacífico. Entre otros temas, dialogaron sobre la rotación de coordinadores de los Grupos Técnicos y el calendario de actividades 2018- 2019, que someterán a consideración del Grupo de Alto Nivel.

La Alianza del Pacífico
La Alianza del Pacífico es una de las iniciativas de integración más exitosas de la región y desde su creación en 2012, busca la libre movilidad de bienes, servicios capitales y personas entre Chile, Colombia, México y Perú. *Colombia ostentó la Presidencia Pro Témpore de este mecanismo desde el 30 de junio de 2017 y la entregó a México al inicio de la reunión de Coordinadores Nacionales. De manera extraordinaria, al término de la Cumbre, Mexico entregará la Presidencia Pro-Témpore a Perú para impulsar una transición a partir de la cual el país que asume la PPT culmina su año de trabajo con una Cumbre organizada en su propio país.

Estado Asociado, Noticias

Terminó en Ottawa la IV ronda de negociaciones de la Alianza del Pacífico y los países candidatos a Estado Asociado

Posted on by Gabriela Carrasquilla
21
May

Ottawa, Canadá (mayo 21 2018) Este viernes finalizó en Ottawa (Canadá), la cuarta ronda de negociaciones entre los países de la Alianza del Pacífico y Australia, Canadá, Nueva Zelanda y Singapur, mercados que buscan la condición de ser Estado Asociado.

Esta categoría, anunciada en la Cumbre Cali, en junio del año 2017, permite a la Alianza del Pacífico negociar como bloque con terceros países, acuerdos vinculantes, de altos estándares, en materia económico comercial.

Durante esta ronda, que se realizó entre el 12 y 18 de mayo, sesionaron grupos temáticos en áreas como Normas Sanitarias y Fitosanitarias, Defensa Comercial, Normas de Origen, Acceso a Mercados, Comercio, Servicios, Inversión, Propiedad Intelectual, Contratación Pública, Asuntos Institucionales, Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio, y Facilitación del Comercio.

Durante la IV ronda, se acordó trabajar de manera conjunta en temas relevantes, con el fin de que en el próximo encuentro se dé lugar a un trabajo fluido con avances significativos.

Respecto de las discusiones bilaterales sobre acceso a los mercados de bienes, servicios e inversión, y compras públicas, se avanzó en la revisión de las ofertas.

Noticias

Termina segunda ronda de negociaciones de la Alianza del Pacífico con los candidatos a Estado Asociado

Posted on by alianza.del.pacifico
02
Feb

Gold Coast (Australia) 2 de febrero del 2018-. Este viernes terminó en Australia la segunda ronda de negociaciones entre los países de la Alianza del Pacífico -Chile, Colombia, México y Perú- y los candidatos a Estado Asociado: Australia, Canadá, Nueva Zelanda y Singapur.

Los acuerdos logrados durante la semana permiten avanzar hacia el intercambio de las ofertas en acceso a mercados de bienes, servicios e inversión, compras públicas y entrada temporal de personas de negocios.

Durante esta semana, se reunieron las mesas de acceso a mercados de bienes agrícolas e industriales; defensa comercial; reglas de origen; facilitación del comercio; medidas sanitarias y fitosanitarias; obstáculos técnicos al comercio; compras públicas; comercio de servicios e inversión; mejora regulatoria; cooperación; medio ambiente; laboral; género; competencia y empresas del estado; PYMES; y asuntos institucionales para alcanzar acuerdos que permitan ir avanzando en la construcción de los textos de los acuerdos que se tendrán con los cuatro países candidatos a Estado Asociado.

Para la negociación fue clave el acuerdo entre los países de trabajar en anexos sectoriales de cooperación regulatoria, que facilitarán el comercio de productos en los diferentes sectores de interés exportador,  como los ya incluidos entre los países de la Alianza del Pacífico.

La próxima reunión de equipos negociadores se llevará a cabo la primera semana de marzo en Santiago de Chile.

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Technical Subgroup on MRV of the Pacific Alliance (SGT-MRV) shares a report of its fourth face-to-face meeting

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
08
Sep

September 8, 2022.- The SGT-MRV of the Pacific Alliance shares the Executive Report of its fourth face-to-face meeting held in Bogotá the first week of August, which included delegates from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, as well as a representative from Ecuador as a guest country.

The Report gives an account of the beginning of the second stage of development of the SGT-MRV Coordination Framework, thanks to the technical and financial support of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Gold Standard as implementing agency. It also notes that the Bogotá meeting:

  • Served as a meeting space between the focal points and delegates from the countries, who met for the first time officially since 2019.

  • Gold Standard was formally presented as an implementing partner of the second phase of the SGT-MRV.

  • A balance of the first stage and the main milestones generated from the implementation of the Coordination Framework (2018-2021) was made.

  • The countries disclosed the status of their MRV systems.

  • Activities and products of the new Coordination Framework for the short, medium and long term were updated and agreed upon, and

  • A common vision to 2026 was defined for the SGT-MRV: In 2026 the countries of the Pacific Alliance will have operational and sustainable MRV systems, which will be a reference for other regions and an input for South-South cooperation.

Likewise, three priority objectives were established to be achieved in 2026:

  1. Consolidate the technical capacities in the countries to lead the monitoring and reporting of climate mitigation, adaptation and financing.

  2. Move towards standards and protocols for monitoring and reporting policies and actions for climate mitigation, adaptation and financing, harmonized among the countries of the Pacific Alliance.

  3. Have in the countries of the Pacific Alliance with MRV systems implemented and harmonized with the next Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR).

The Report is now available on the website of the Pacific Alliance: click here

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Technical Subgroup on Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of the Pacific Alliance held the first technical session on sustainable taxonomies

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
22
Sep

September 22, 2023.- On September 20, with the participation of nearly 30 technicians from the region, the Technical Subgroup on Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (SGT-MRV) of the Pacific Alliance, with the support of the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) and the Institute of the Americas, held the first of two virtual sessions on ‘Sustainable taxonomies: a key tool to strengthen monitoring, reporting and verification of climate finance’.

The objective of the session was to introduce and discuss the concept of sustainable taxonomies, present an overview of the state of development and implementation of taxonomies in the world and especially in Pacific Alliance countries, and discuss how these taxonomies can guide investments and transparency in line with the Paris Agreement. Some key messages were:

  • Sustainable taxonomies promote a common language in sustainable investments, aligning public and private actors on the type of actions to finance to meet the commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

  • The global taxonomy landscape indicates that the movement towards sustainable finance investment and capital mobilization has led to an increase in green taxonomies around the world. Jurisdictions in Western Europe, Asia and the Pacific have made progress over the past three years in developing policy and technical aspects working towards a transparent reporting architecture for sustainable finance.

  • Although globally most taxonomies remain voluntary, there are exceptions such as China, the European Union and Malaysia. These are mandatory taxonomies in verification reporting. In the Pacific Alliance, Mexico is interested in making a taxonomy mandatory after the current piloting stage.

The report summarizing this first session (in Spanish), together with the recording and the exhibited presentations, can be found at the following link: https://alianzapacifico.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Relatoria-sesion-1-CdP-Taxonomias.pdf

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Technical Subgroup for Measurement, Reporting and Verification of the Pacific Alliance presents results of the study on ‘devaluation and competitiveness in the carbon market’

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
18
Jul

July 18, 2023 – On July 12, the Pacific Alliance Technical Subgroup for Measurement, Reporting and Verification (SGT-MRV) presented the results of the study ‘Devaluation and competitiveness in the carbon market’, which was prepared by the Mexican consulting firm Mercado Ambiental. The work, which received financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), is contextualized in the coordination framework of the SGT-MRV and responds to a request from delegates of the Alliance countries to understand the implications of various economic variables (such as exchange rate, inflation and growth, among others) on the design and implementation of carbon pricing instruments.

The study focused on the three countries that already have at least one carbon pricing instrument in place, such as Chile, Colombia and Mexico. In this regard, the exhibitors of Mercado Ambiental, Gerardo Ramirez and Luis Colin, highlighted:

  • In macroeconomic terms, it is recommended that the design of future carbon price instruments should consider the effects of inflation and the exchange rate. In the first, adjusting periodically (e.g. annually) to the purchasing value considering some price index, and in the second, if it is fixed in foreign currency (e.g. US dollar) considering the appreciation or depreciation of the local currency with respect to the dollar. These are the variables that most influence carbon prices and markets in the Pacific Alliance countries.

  • The successful implementation of a carbon price instrument, as well as the efficient operation of carbon markets, requires coordinated inter-institutional work, mainly between ministries of finance and ministries of environment.

  • An adequate carbon price can encourage investments in cleaner technologies and financial flows that can be directed to climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. It is therefore necessary to ensure that measures to control inflation and devaluation do not interfere with climate goals (and vice versa).

  • With the growing interest in participating in international markets or in cooperation mechanisms such as Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, priority sectors must be defined for the implementation of mitigation projects, as well as strengthening institutional capacities and ensuring clear and transparent rules.

  • With the current context of carbon pricing instruments, it is possible to visualize a potential regional carbon market with Chile, Colombia and Mexico as demand generators and Peru and Ecuador as reduction supply generators. This could allow the Pacific Alliance to take advantage of opportunities for emissions reductions, while enhancing regional cooperation.

A recording of the webinar can be accessed at the following link:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/DQ-nGp4-w7ffyJtzSzt9Blq9CxJLhPS-bch51tmVzgUP2EkbjmeMh2o1izBk9SHJ.CvZq0I8UGLhyqrJw

Passcode: #4EB8Y@0

Noticias

Technical Groups of the Pacific Alliance participate in the first training on “Gender Mainstreaming in the Pacific Alliance” 

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
09
Mar

Within the framework of the meetings of the Technical Groups and the High Level Group of the Pacific Alliance is held in Lima, Peru, the training “Gender Mainstreaming in the Pacific Alliance” aimed at the Technical Groups that make up this integration mechanism.

The event was opened by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Peru, Jaime Pomareda, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade of Peru, Sayuri Bayona and the General Director of Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination of the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, Jeannette Llaja.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Peru, stressed that carrying out this training constitutes in itself the fulfillment of a presidential mandate of the Pacific Alliance and that the presence of technical groups in this activity contributes to the purpose of mainstream the gender approach in the activities of the Pacific Alliance.

She also highlighted that “activities like this are a tribute and a clear message for women, in the sense that gender equality is a priority topic on our agendas.”  For her part, Vice Minister Bayona, stressed that this activity is a space for reflection so that, from the different technical groups of the Pacific Alliance, the role of women can be addressed in order to achieve a more just and equitable society.

As part of the training, the conference “Mainstreaming gender equality: with an emphasis on trade and gender” was held by the consultant to the Inter-American Development Bank, Alicia Frohmann, during which members of the various Technical Groups of the Pacific Alliance actively participated.

At the end of her presentation, the speaker highlighted that this activity represents a pioneering effort with a special level of depth in order to reach all the technical groups of the Pacific Alliance. She also emphasized that this is an initiative never before carried out in any country in Latin America and the world; in that regard, she congratulated the Technical Group of Gender for this activity.