US and Uruguay Sign Trade and Investment Framework Agreement

MONTEVIDEO - Representatives of the Government of Uruguay and the Government of the United States of America signed on January 25, 2007 a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in Montevideo, Uruguay.

According to a press release by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Deputy USTR John K. Veroneau signed for the US and Presidential Chief of Staff Gonzalo Fernandez signed for Uruguay.

In signing this agreement, both parties reaffirm their commitment to expand economic opportunities between Uruguay and the US while simultaneously coordinating their efforts to promote greater trade liberalization through the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The agreement sets forth a work program covering different matters, such as facilitation and liberalization of bilateral trade and investment (including agricultural issues), cooperation on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, Intellectual Property Rights, regulatory issues affecting trade policy and investment, information and communications technology and e-commerce, trade and technical capacity building, trade in services, government procurement and other matters.

Through the agreement, the parties will also establish a US-Uruguay Council on Trade and Investment.