Flurry Of TPP Negotiating Meetings Underway

Countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement have undertaken an intensive series of negotiating meetings on specific topics over the coming month, ending with a meeting of chief negotiators and key experts in late November.

According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, meetings are being held on rules of origin (two times), government procurement, state-owned enterprises, and investment, ending with the chief negotiators meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah (US).

Negotiations on the intellectual property chapter took place recently. All negotiations are highly confidential.

The goal of negotiators has been to conclude the talks by the end of this year.

USTR issued the following statement:

“Trans-Pacific Partnership partner countries, including the United States, will be hosting a series of meetings in coming weeks on various aspects of the ongoing negotiations: 

October 28-November 1               Rules of Origin                                                                                  Mexico City, Mexico

October 30-November 2               Government Procurement                                                         Washington, DC

November 4-November 7            State-Owned Enterprises                                                            Santiago, Chile

November 6-November 9            Investment                                                                                        Washington, DC

November 12-November 18       Rules of Origin                                                                                   Salt Lake City, UT

November 19-November 24       Chief Negotiators & Key Experts                                               Salt Lake City, UT

USTR will announce telephone briefings for U.S. stakeholders to be held around meetings in Salt Lake City.”