U.S. & Central Asian Countries Discuss Trade Facilitation, Barriers
On September 16, 2011, U.S. Trade Representative Kirk hosted the sixth meeting of the U.S. - Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council in Washington, D.C. Attendees included delegations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, as well as officials from numerous other U.S. Government agencies. The meeting focused on the importance of reducing or eliminating barriers to trade and investment in Central Asia and facilitating cross-border transactions.
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Discussed Regional Customs Union, WTO Accession, Proposed Silk Road Initiative, Etc.
Kazakhstan provided an overview of the newly formed Kazakhstan-Belarus-Russia Customs Union. Other attendees provided updates on efforts to accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the exception of Kyrgyzstan, who has been a WTO Member since 1998. Afghanistan provided its perspectives on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) and the implications for trade and investment in the region, as well as its negotiations for WTO Accession.
USTR staff provided an overview of the Special 301 Intellectual Property Report process and led a discussion on how the Central Asian countries can address concerns with intellectual property protections. The Departments of Defense and State gave a joint presentation on the new Silk Road Initiative and each country provided its views on the proposal.