Andina

Peru's Government authorizes delegation trip to start FTA negotiations with Hong Kong

Photo: Internet

Photo: Internet

11:30 | Lima, Jan. 28.

The Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, has authorized the trip by a Peruvian delegation to the People's Republic of China in order to start negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with Hong Kong.

Ministerial Resolution 028-2023-Mincetur —published in the Official Gazette El Peruano on Saturday— authorizes the trip by a delegation composed of eight officials from the Deputy Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, with the aim of participating in the negotiation meetings.

The delegation is led by chief negotiator of the FTA with Hong Kong, Gerardo Meza Grillo —Head of the Directorate for Asia, Oceania, and Africa.

It is made up of Claudia del Carmen Gutierrez Pazos —a professional who will serve as coordinator for the FTA with Hong Kong.

Similarly, it is composed of six other specialists in issues such as technical barriers to trade, access to markets, rules of origin, legal and institutional matters, as well as sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

The text specifies that this travel authorization will be valid from February 3 to 11, 2023. In the case of the specialist in sanitary and phytosanitary issues, the authorization will be in force from February 6 to 11, 2023.

Negotiation

The document specifies that the first round of FTA negotiations will be held in Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, from February 6 to 10, 2023.

This first round includes meetings of negotiation and technical heads. In the case of the former, these are intended to follow up on the work of various technical groups and provide instructions that may be useful to reach consensus on the matters addressed by technical groups.

Within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum Leaders' Meeting, an audience was held with Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

At the event it was agreed that, between January and February 2023, negotiations would begin to sign a trade agreement.

They aim to deepen our trade relations, as well as create a transparent and predictable legal framework that promotes our bilateral trade.

(END) JCC/MVB

Published: 1/28/2023