   
  
WT/COMTD/RTA8/M/1  
 
11 December 2020  
(20-8960) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Twelfth Dedicated Session on Regional Trade  
Agreements    
 
ECONOMIC COMPLEMENTARITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN MEXICO AND THE 
PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA (GOODS)  
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 2 0 NOVEMBER  2020 
Chairman: H.E. Mr. Mohammad Qurban Haqjo (Afghanistan)  
1.  The 12th Dedicated Session on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) of the Committee on Trade  and 
Development (CTD) was convened in document WTO/AIR/COMTD/RTA/7/Rev.1 of 
10 November  2020.1 Under item  D (I) of the agenda, the Committee considered the Economic 
Complemen tarity Agreement between Mexico and the Plurinational State of Bolivia (Goods) 
(WT/COMTD/RTA8/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA8/1). This agreement was concluded in the context of the 
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA), as Economic Complementarity Agreement num ber 
66 (ACE No. 66). The present document contains the minutes relating to the consideration of this 
agreement.2 
2.  The Chairman  said that the Economic Complementarity Agreement between Mexico and the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia was notified under paragra ph 4(a) of the Enabling Clause by Mexico on 
23 July 2019. The notification was circulated on 30 July 2019 in document WT/COMTD/RTA8/N/1. 
The factual presentation on th e agreement – document WT/COMTD/RTA8/1 dated 
14 September  2020 – had been prepared by the Secretariat on its own responsibility, and in full 
consultation with the parties. While noting that no written questions had been  received on th e 
agreement before t he present  meeting , he indicated that  Members could  nevertheless pose 
questions during the meeting, and would also be able to submit written questions after the meeting.  
3.  The representative of Mexico  expressed appreciation to the delegation of 
the Plurinational  State  of Bolivia for the coordination between the parties and th e joint efforts. 
Historically, relations with Latin America and the Caribbean ha d been fundamental for both countries, 
which  were seeking to strengthen their trade ties. To that end, various trade agreements had been  
developed, which pla yed a key role in f ostering the development of the region. In terms of the 
background to ACE No. 66, he said that, on  10 September 1994 in Rio de Janeiro, the parties had 
signed a free trade agreement (FTA), which entered into force in 1995. Subsequently, i n light of a 
poten tial withdrawal from the FTA, the parties  decided to enter into a new agreement  in order to 
maintain free trade in goods. As a result, they concluded ACE No. 66 within the framework of LAIA, 
which came into force on 7 June 2010. Th e agreement maintain ed the same preferential tariff 
treatment , and guarantee d preferential market access for  both countries.  The general objective of 
ACE No. 66 was to stimulate the expansion and diversification of trade between the parties. To this 
end, it sought  to remove barrie rs to trade and facilitate the movement  of goods by promoting  the 
conditions for fair competition in trade.  
4.  With regard to the scope of ACE No. 66, he said that the agreement was a legal instrument that 
allowed for certainty and security in trade operations , and establishe d clear provisions to ensure its 
proper implementation and the effective granting of negotiated preferences. In terms of trade in 
 
1 Due to the restrictive measures for meetings in place in Geneva in the context of COVID -19, all 
delegations were invited to follow the meeting remotely . The Chairman, who was also participating remotely, 
indicated that he had  requested the Secretariat to stand in as required if any difficulties were encountered with 
his connection.  
2 The general minutes of the CTD's 12th Dedicated Session on RTAs are contained in document 
WT/COMTD/RTA/M/12.  WT/COMTD/RTA8/M/1  
 
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  goods,  ACE No. 66 cover ed the full spectrum of industrial goods, exe mpting them from duties. Under 
the FTA that preceded ACE No. 66, tariffs were removed over a maximum period of 10 years. In the 
agri-food sector, ACE No. 66 exclude d approximately 18% of tariff items, which was equivalent to 
approximately 1.6% of the total . It also establishe d requirements applicable to animal and plant 
health measures, rules of origin, customs procedures, global safeguards and unfair international 
trade practices . On technical barriers to trade , the agreement contain ed a chapter concerning  
standardization measures . This chapter had provisions on the use , inter alia , of international 
standards ; risk assessment ; compatibility and equivalence ; conformity assessment ; health 
protection ; environmental protection and the handling of hazardous subs tances and waste ; labelling ; 
and technical cooperation  and consultations. With regard to administrative provisions , the 
agreement  provide d for the creation of an information centre to facilitate communication between 
the parties, as well as an administrative commission dealing with the implementation of ACE No. 66. 
Working groups ha d been created to administer the various provisions of the agreement. With regard 
to dispute settlement , as the parties had  not reached an agreement on the dispute settlement regime 
applicable to ACE No. 66, any trade related dispute was to be settled within the framework of LAIA 
(CR/Resolution 114 of 22/03/1990).  Turning to the benefits of the agreement, he said that ACE No. 
66 laid the groundwork for boosting trade between the parties, and reaffirm ed the friendly ties and 
cooperation that ha d always existed between both peoples  and countries . The opening  of trade had 
been highly beneficial to the countries of the region in terms of commerce, investment and 
employment, and ha d brought certainty to the business environment. Trade facilitation for 
entrepreneurs in the region, through the maintenance of preferential co nditions, would help to 
increase the potential for growth in trade between the parties . In closing, he indicated his 
delegation's willingness to expand on any points of interest . 
5.  The representative of  the Plurinational State of Bolivia  expressed appreciati on to the 
delegation  of Mexico for the coordination between the parties. She said that t he economies of both 
countries had undergone major transformations in the past few years as a result of reforms , which 
provide d opportunities for working together and c onducting business. She also noted that there  was 
a significant difference in the size and structure of the economies  of the parties . While imports of 
both p arties were dominated by manufacturing, exports were largely concentrated in manufacturing 
in the case of Mexico , and fuels and mining products in the case of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.  
Trade flows between the countries were low and, with the exception of 
the Plurinational  State  of Bolivia's imports from Mexico, represe nted a very small share in the trade 
of the parties . The figures also demonstrate d a consistent trade surplus in favour of Mexico. 
However, there was considerable potential for this trade to be expanded and diversified . She said 
that ACE No. 66 cover ed import ant matters relating to the trade relationship  between the parties , 
economic development, market  access  for goods, provisions relating to  the agricultural sector , 
sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, rules of origin, customs procedures, safeguard 
measures, unfair trade practices and technical barriers. The agreement also  identifie d areas for joint 
cooperation to benefit the economies of both countries. The parties  were committed to maintaining 
an open dialogue to follow up on outstanding issues in the ir bilateral trade relationship , and to 
convening a meeting of the administrative commission for ACE No. 66 in the near future.  
6.  In terms of joint cooperation, she highlight ed a number of  trade promotion activities currently 
under way with a view to enhancing trade. Particularly noteworthy were those activities aimed at 
improving the parties' mutual understanding of each other's  markets, including  through the 
exchange of information, partic ipation in fairs, business missions and product -related events. She 
pointed to  the signing in 2018 of a collaboration programme to promote and increase opportunities 
for trade between the two countries . Both countries had also recently agreed to move forwa rd on 
SPS issues , and to exchange lists of prioritized products that were of interest to each of the parties, 
so as to  make headway in the sanitary certification process for these products. An example of this 
work was the certification of processed quinoa for marketing in Mexico. Furthermore,  in the area of 
customs, the entry into force in March 2018 of the Bilateral Agreement on Cooperation, Mutual 
Administrative Assistance and Exchange of Information in Customs Matters needed to  be highlighted. 
This instr ument allow ed for the exchange of information between the respective customs authorities . 
It also provided for cooperation to ensure the proper application of both countries' laws  – and to 
prevent, investigate and combat customs offences. She additionally noted that both countries had 
expressed an interest in sharing experiences concerning the development and promotion of micro, 
small and medium -sized enterprises ( MSME s). In closing, she said that trade relations between the 
parties we re flourishing , thanks  to a positive atmosphere and a readiness to work. The se efforts 
were contribu ting to an expansion and diversification of trade, an enhanc ement of  the business 
environment and  a strengthening of the ties between Mexico and the Plurinational State of Bolivi a. WT/COMTD/RTA8/M/1  
 
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  7.  The representative of the European Union  expressed her delegation’s appreciation to the parties 
for the transparency provided.  
8.  The representative of the United States  thank ed the parties for the ir transparency . She stressed 
the importance of the transparency exercise.  
9.  The Chairman  said that oral discussion of the Economic Complementarity Agreement between 
Mexico and the Plurinational State of Bolivia  could be concluded in accordance with paragraph 11 of 
the Transparency Mechanism  for RTAs (RTA TM) . Follow -up questions by Members would need to be 
submitted in writing to the Secretariat within one week, by 27 November 2020. The parties would 
then be given two weeks to submit written replies , by no later than 11 December 2020. In 
accordance with parag raph 13 of the RTA TM , all written submissions as well as the minutes of th e 
present  meeting w ould be circulated promptly in all WTO official languages, and w ould be made 
available on the WTO website.  
10.  The Committee took note  of all interventions.  
 
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