Very good to see you all . Uh thanks
so much for joining us here today . Um
it's it's really wonderful having an
opportunity to see so many friends from
across our hemisphere together uh
virtually . Uh and uh we also look
forward to the opportunity to get
together in person . Um there is uh no
region that the United States is more
profoundly or personally connected to
than the Americas . Uh We have a
hemisphere that's forever linked by a
common language and geography by
incredibly close bonds of family and
community and by a shared focus on
advancing democracy so that we can
deliver for our people . Uh when
President biden announced the Americas
Partnership for Economic prosperity at
the summit of the Americas in Los
Angeles last june , he did so ,
recognizing that the countries in our
region are stronger and better prepared
to seize opportunities for our people
when we work together . And I think we
all recognize that our cooperation is
more important than than ever as we
face in our hemisphere , serious
challenges from covid 19 and its
economic consequences to high food and
energy prices exacerbated by President
Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine to
enduring problems like a lack of broad
based economic opportunity , corruption ,
chronic and security citizens in all of
our countries across the region are
looking for their governments to
address these shared challenges to
deliver results so that they're free to
pursue a future that is full of
opportunity . Uh and uh and hopefully
prosperity today , we are excited
to officially launch an ambitious high
standards initiative that will help us
do just that . Uh and let me say here ,
the Americas Partnership is just that a
partnership . Our governments have been
in constant dialogue to shape the
agenda . We're also consulting closely
with civil society with labor ,
environmental groups , the private
sector and we're committed to bringing
historically underrepresented groups to
the table as well . The americans
partnership will accelerate our shared
work to strengthen supply chains and to
make them more resilient to future
shocks so that the goods and products
that are populations rely on are
affordable and available and workers
rights are respected in the doing it
will deepen our cooperation on the
clean energy transition conservation ,
climate resilience , helping us share
technologies and best practices and
boost public and private investment all
while creating good paying jobs . It
will reinvigorate and reform our
regional economic institutions like the
Inter american Development Bank and
deploy new financing tools to mobilize
more investment and focus on priorities
like the climate crisis , inclusive
opportunity , private sector
development . The partnership will
boost our longstanding trade and
commercial ties and work to bring the
benefits of sustainable , inclusive ,
responsible trade to all of our people ,
which Ambassador ty will speak more
about in just a moment . Finally , it
will help update what President biden
calls the basic bargain , what our
citizens expect from their governments .
The americans partnership will explore
how all of us can support public
investments and innovations that make
life better and fairer for our
communities , creating opportunities
for workers to earn a decent wage for
Children , to get a good education for
women to enter or return to the
workforce will continue to adapt the
agenda based on the needs of our
populations , changing circumstances in
our region in the world and the voices
of the countries here . And let me
emphasize that the door to this
partnership will remain open open to
any country that is willing to uphold
our high standards and work toward our
shared goals . This dialogue marshals
the strength , the ingenuity , the
diversity of an incredibly dynamic
region . We're 90% of the western
hemisphere's GDP nearly two thirds of
its population . And as President biden
has said , there is nothing we cannot
do together . So we're very much
looking forward to hearing from
everyone today , but not just today in
the months ahead about how we can make
real our shared vision of the Americas
partnership , our people are looking to
us to deliver and I'm confident that
together we can honor their trust . But
that said , let me turn it over to
Ambassador Type Catherine . Thank you
so much . Secretary of Lincoln and I'm
glad to see all of you as we advance
the America's partnership for economic
prosperity . Thank you so much for
joining us today . President biden
summed up the goal of this initiative
when he announced it during the summit
of the Americas last june to respond to
basic human desires that we share for
dignity , for safety and for security .
The traditional way of doing trade gave
us cheap goods and more production ,
but at the same time , it also
contributed to growing inequality ,
sprawling and vulnerable supply chains
and workers and communities being
displaced and left behind under the
President's leadership . This
administration has been writing a new
story on trade one that addresses
today's pressing issues that directly
impact everyday people to deliver real
opportunities for workers and
communities and advance our global
priorities like tackling the climate
crisis and building resilient supply
chains . The Americas partnership is a
part of our pursuit of a worker
centered trade policy . It will be a
new type of economic arrangement
anchored on cooperation to build our
economies from the bottom up and from
the middle out . This will be a
historic agreement with one of the most
dynamic economic regions in the world .
The Western hemisphere accounts for
almost 32% of global GDP and the United
States ties with the region are broad
and deep . We have some of our most
longstanding trade agreements in this
region , like our agreements with chile
Colombia and Peru . We also have some
of our newest like the renegotiated US
Mexico Canada agreement and the
protocol on trade rules and
transparency with Ecuador . We are
committed to working with our partners
to fully implement these existing
agreements and at the same time , we
recognize that we need new tools to
address new problems that will shape
the coming decades to better integrate
our economies , reinforce our regional
ties and ensure that the benefits of
trade are shared by all our citizens
and that is exactly what we intend to
do through the partnership . I'm very
pleased with the Joint Declaration
we're releasing today . It's ambitious
and reflects our shared priorities and
that includes empowering our workers
and eradicating forced labor ,
strengthening our supply chains to be
more resilient against unexpected
shocks , growing our economies ,
fostering innovation in both the public
and private sectors and tackling the
climate crisis by growing climate
related industries and creating good
paying jobs throughout our region .
This is truly a partnership as
secretary Blinken said not only among
the governments represented here but
also with our relevant stakeholders
including civil society labor , the
private sector and our Congress in my
role as the U . S . Trade
Representative . I've made it a
priority to meet with manufacturers ,
farmers , producers and fishers as much
as I can to hear directly from them and
to incorporate their priorities in our
policies . The same principle
applies to this initiative . The
Americas Partnership will be a tool to
bring more voices to the table to
ensure that people who have been
traditionally left out of the
conversation like women , women
entrepreneurs , indigenous peoples and
other under prep presented groups can
help shape this new chapter in our
collective story on trade . Our
approach with this partnership will
reflect these values to make a future
that is more resilient , more
sustainable and more inclusive and to
create new opportunities for all our
communities . I look forward to working
with Secretary Blinken and all of you
as we begin this exciting opportunity .
Thank you again for coming along with
us and I'll now turn it back over to
Secretary Blinken . Thank you very much .
Um and to all our colleagues again ,
it's wonderful to have everyone with us
today . And let's go around and hear
from and hear from colleagues starting
with our colleague from Barbados . So
Minister Simmons Kerry the floor is
yours , Which Secretary of State
and Trade ? Representative colleague
Ministers from Canada chile Colombia ,
Costa rica , Dominican republic Ecuador ,
Mexico , Panama , Peru and Uruguay and
other distinguished guests . Um First
of all , let me thank you for the
opportunity to be here . I want to give
you the assurance that Barbados
considers this to be a Barbados
considers this to be a worthwhile and
ambitious initiative by the Government
of the United States of America aimed
at enhancing economic cooperation to
drive inclusive economic recovery and
growth in the hemisphere . And so
therefore on behalf of the Government
of Barbados . I want to extend the
appreciation or appreciation to the
Government of the United States for
inviting Barbados to be a founder
member of the Americas Partnership .
And I want to stress that I note with
great interest , the promise of the
creation of a secure middle class and
democratic region through building from
the bottom up and the middle out . Um
This approach resonates very strongly
with Barbados zone vision for tackling
the challenges that we are confronted
with respect to economic prosperity not
only here but in the region . Um I
should say now that I mentioned the
word region that while we obviously
salute this initiative , we must at the
outset emphasize and underscore the
context within which Barbados will be
able to participate . As you would be
aware , we are a member of the
Caribbean community and the single
market and economy and we are actually
the country and the CSM E this
Caribbean single market and economy
which has the lead responsibility for
regional integration as such . It would
be almost impossible for us to just go
forward on a frolic of our own , but
rather we have to be at the table ever
mindful of the role and
responsibilities that we have with
respect to our colleagues states within
Caricom . And in that regard we would
have wished to just signal at the
beginning or desire to have the Carb
Caricom Secretary General and or Her
Representatives partner with us as we
continue to have these discussions um
For its part , Caricom stands ready to
support the process and will work with
any any and all of the Member States in
order to achieve mutually satisfactory
outcome . I want to say that like many
of our neighbors in the Caribbean and
the wider hemisphere , we have been
hard hit by a number of unprecedented
um issues , you have mentioned some
already . Um um um Secretary of State
overlap and health , climate positive
living crises . All of these have exam
exacerbated the levels of indebtedness
for most if not all of us within this
region and they continue to threaten us .
Um In addition to that , we are
confounded by issues of energy and food
security , especially in here in the
Caricom countries , the aim of the
Americas Partnership to bring our
hemisphere closer together in response
to these challenges through a number of
measures elaborated on the basis of a
humane approach to economic policy , is
very closely aligned with my
government's policy agenda and our
manifesto um in this regard , the Prime
Minister of Barbados , the honorable
MiA are more motley has placed emphasis
both domestically and internationally
on pursuing adjusting green transition
that allows us to build resilience
against climate crisis in all areas and
creates a new clean green jobs down
environment , improving the lives of
our people and improving access to the
global trading system . Um So such
Barbados Hills , the Americas
partnership as a much needed
development for revitalizing and
reimagining the trade relationship
between the United States and the
Caribbean community . I would want to
urge um Madam trade representative that
this is an area that we should pay
close attention to because frankly ,
the relationship between ourselves and
yours with regard to trade has been in
something vegetative state for far too
long . And I see this partnership as
having the potential for um providing a
solid platform for expanding and
enhancing the trade agreement which we
now have , which is the Caribbean Basin
initiative . And this could also be an
opportunity for the injection of new
blood not only through the Caribbean
Basin Initiative but through its
instruments which would be the
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
and the U . S . Caribbean based in
Trade Partnership Act . Barbie . This
also feels very strongly that the
Americas Partnership for Economic
Prosperity builds upon the momentum of
the U . S . Caribbean Partnership to
address the climate crisis of 2030 . Um
This effort was launched last year at
the ninth summit of the Americas which
establishes a framework to support
climate adaptation and strengthen
energy security while of course
building the resilience of critical
infrastructure and local economies to
the climate crisis that we face . Um we
feel that the partnership also can be
leveraged in order for to ensure that
instruments of multilateral financial
institutions in the region are able to
address the challenges of climate
crisis through mitigation and
application and resilience and all of
that brings me to the point of the
Bridgetown Initiative which again
dovetails very nicely with these
ambitions . As you know , the
Bridgestone Initiative is setting up
The comprehensive plan for transforming
the global financial architecture in
order to tackle climate the climate
crisis . But it also and equally
importantly calls on multilateral
development banks to implement the
capital adequacy framework reforms
recommended by the G-20 expert panel in
order to expand lending to governments
by $1 trillion dollars through the use
of innovative financial instruments in
order to finance climate adaptation and
also to build resilience . So we
consider it to be imperative that all
of our hemispheric partners gathered
here today in support of the Americas
Partnership for economic prosperity
continue to bear in mind and to support
the need for reform of the multilateral
financial institutions by endorsing
these reform , especially at the
upcoming World Bank and International
Monetary Fund spring meetings , I want
to say . Finally secretary that
Barbados considers the partnership to
be an ambitious but relevant initiative
which has the potential to harness the
Hemispheres resources in order to
implement critical reforms and programs
aimed at addressing the um the numerous
challenges which we face at this time
and can help us build very resilient
economies . We look forward to
elaboration on the inclusive joint
Declaration which we have adopted and
to the expansion of this partnership to
our Caribbean community and to the rest
of our hemisphere so that we can
realize its promise , go to deliver
hemispheric recovery resilience and
stability across the entirety of the
Americas . I want to thank you mary ,
thank you very very much . Um let's
turn now to Canada to Minister ng mary
over to you . Hi there uh Tony
and Katherine and uh to my many friends
and ministerial colleagues from across
the Americas . It's really terrific to
be here today on behalf of Canada . And
at the launch of the Americas
Partnership for Economic prosperity , a
Pep represents a unique opportunity for
all of our countries to come together
to advance our mutual interests and our
region's economic prosperity . The
events of the last few years have had
disruptive impacts on our economies and
on global trade . First with the
COVID-19 pandemic and more recently
with Russia's illegal invasion of
Ukraine . Supply chains have been
stressed , energy prices have increased
and food security concerns have
exacerbated and it's because of these
challenge now is precisely the right
time to be doing more together as
friends and as partners in the same
hemisphere . Hmm . Is that vehicle to
do exactly that ? It will help us
deliver tangible benefits that will
promote inclusive prosperity and
sustainable development in our region .
It's bold ideas and clear calls to
action to advance and deepen our shared
vision for democracy for development
and prosperity is why Canada is very
pleased to support this initiative and
to work together with all all of you to
help all of us advance our economies in
ways that encourages human rights ,
economic development , transparent
governance and eradicates forced labor
with its focus on inclusive trade , on
multilateral investment and on anti
corruption measures . The declaration
will strengthen the diversity , the
sustainability and the resilience of
our supply chains by expanding regional
ties trade ties , especially those
related to the flow of critical
minerals to food , to clean energy to
vaccines and in particular . We're
pleased with the Joint Declaration that
recognizes the importance of
eliminating poverty , reducing
inequality and distributing the
benefits of our growth far and wide ,
especially to the middle and to the
working classes . Importantly , it will
help reduce systemic barriers to keep
women young people micro small business
owners , racialized entrepreneurs ,
indigenous entrepreneurs who have
traditionally been underrepresented in
global trade from participating in our
shared economic recovery . These goals
align very well with Canada's trade
diversification strategy . And I know
that Canada isn't alone in our
conviction that we must first and
foremost ensure the well being of our
people . That means protecting and
improving access to education to health
and nutrition to social safeguards and
public infrastructure . It also means
creating good jobs and protecting our
environment and our world for future
generations . It is here again that
this this partnerships commitment for
an ambitious agenda of sustainable
sustainable economic growth and
hemispheric resilience is the right way
forward because when one of us succeeds ,
we all succeed . That's why Canada
believes it's imperative that we work
together to make our economies more
inclusive , more sustainable and to
position us to benefit so that all of
our people now and in the future will
indeed contribute to our collective
economies . Thank you very much
mary thank you very much and let's go
down to chile . Um Minister Hola
Antonio Good to see you
but not yet . To hear you . Yeah ,
thank you . Thank you I'm going to
speak in spanish Good
afternoon everyone . My special
greetings to Secretary Blinken and
Ambassador Katherine Tai . And of
course to all of the Foreign Ministers
friends as well as our my Minister of
Trade friends on behalf
chile . I am very pleased to be able to
take part in this launch of an
initiative that seeks better economic
cooperation in the region . Also
because this is a very special year for
chile this year , we're celebrating 200
years of diplomatic relations with the
United States and 20 years since the
signing of our Free Trade Agreement I
wanted to extend special thanks to
Secretary Blinken on this occasion and
for too late this
partnership will
strengthen regional economic
cooperation and help us to move forward
together as you have all said before as
we tackle the challenges for growth
that the region faces . This is a very
comprehensive and and as this
partnership shows it emphasizes the
importance of tying
growth to human development ,
especially to those neglected
communities as well as vulnerable
groups like women , those who have not
have access to economy . It also has
sustainability at its heart as being
important for the future of economies
and biodiversity . As signatories All
of the Member States share certain
values . For example , in terms
of production chains , value
chains , responsible business , public
policies that have a human rights and
gender perspective protection of the
environment and joint work with
communities . This initiative shows us
that as a region we can work together
and have an impact on commerce so that
we can have a constructive platform
where each country can make its
contributions . This
partnership was announced in
conjunction with the recent summit of
the Americas and that shows the
importance of cooperation in the
hemisphere to improve the quality of
life and economic prosperity for all in
the hemisphere for chile . It is impor
and for the work that we do here on out
help conditions for post
pandemic recovery . In the coming
months we will be responsible for
negotiating the implementation of this
agreement . I believe that we will be
able to achieve the objectives we've
set out in the coming months . We will
have to understand what our ambitions
are in the framework of this
partnership to the suggest capacity
building so that we can be in
line with international standards . We
should be promoting free trade
agreements and standardization
globally can look at
social policies , the most important
agreements having to do with human
rights , Children's rights , the
environment , among others . It is
important to advance and this
initiative can lead to specific
actions in terms of the digital economy
to promote transformative economies and
the development of regional value
chains to achieve prosperity . I
there for reiterate chile's
intent to work actively to ensure that
there are new perspectives for
economic and regional regional economic
integration and as we heard from the
Minister of Barbados , we would like to
call on all of us to include more
countries of the region in this
initiative . Thank you very much ,
Gracias antonia thank you very much .
Um we turned out of Colombia , I think
we have uh Minister Amana Amana ,
excuse me and Minister of Lesko . Thank
you .
Secretary antony Blinken , Secretary of
State Ambassador Katherine Tai , us
Trade representative Ministers
of today's participating governments .
We would like to thank the U . S .
Government for the kind invitation to
the launch of the joint statement of
the America's Partnership for economic
prosperity for the Colombian government .
The commitment to working together at
the hemispheric level for regional
integration through innovative
initiatives that are specific and
strategic will lead to progress
for our people . Without
a doubt this is a key moment to close
the gaps of inequality throughout the
continent and the post pandemic
context . There are global conflicts
that have affected the energy and food
sovereignty of the world and there are
these are challenges that we must
tackle together , such as protecting
the environment given the imminent
climate crisis and global warming .
This
situation has led to higher inflation
worldwide , leading to lower purchasing
power for citizens vulnerability in our
supply chains , crisis in
sovereign debt and a slowing
down of economic
growth in most countries in the
hemisphere compared to the previous
year . And it is in the midst of all of
these challenges that in Colombia we
are convinced in the ability to adapt
and to become more resilient throughout
the Americas and we're convinced that
changes are needed as is greater
integration in the hemisphere . We must
be more efficient with our resources .
We must build value chains at the
regional level and ensure that trade is
fair and balanced throughout the
hemisphere . This initiative that we
are launching today is an opportunity
to work together and to create the
prosperity that our peoples deserve .
Some of them have been forgotten for a
very long time . Therefore , the
commitments of this alliance are
will allow us to recover our economic
possibilities region our momentum .
This is a day to work on
an inclusive sustainable economy , one
that takes into consideration the
environment and our biodiversity . That
ensures greater care for and
participation of our communities and of
course greater balance when it comes to
trade conditions worldwide , leading to
greater production . Thank you very
much everyone . I give the rest of my
time to my colleague , the Minister of
Housing , city and territory , catalina
Velasco . Welcome . Thank you very much .
Mr . Minister Romania . Our actions
must be respectful of the environment
of our biodiversity . They must ensure
greater participation and care for our
communities . We must care for natural
resources such as the amazon our
mountains , our sources of water and
the biodiversity . That our our wealth .
We must protect these as a region
through sustainable development ,
public and private investment must
provide value to vulnerable communities
who have historically been affected by
violence , geographic isolation and
absence of the State in this context ,
President Gustavo Petro has called
these regions of deep
Colombia and we know that in order to
achieve peace , we must create economic
and social opportunities . We celebrate
the fact that this initiative has been
emphatic and taken into consideration
historically forgotten populations such
as our indigenous populations . Women
afro descendants , young people , the L .
G . B . The LGBT community ,
senior citizens , People with
disabilities in rural communities
without including these populations .
In all of our processes in society , it
is impossible to make decisions
regarding peace and equality , which is
the goal of all of our countries . In
developing this initiative , we will
emphasize priorities such as access to
drinking water , basic health services ,
housing , infrastructure
and clean energy as well as the energy
transition . Therefore , this
initiative brings us together to seek
sustainable stable development . We
seek stronger economies in the region
and this will allow us to better tackle
the problems we face offer
opportunities and diminish the
level of irregular migration Colombia
will continue to work with everyone so
that the hemisphere is increasingly
stable , inclusive , Resilient ,
sustainable and integrated . Thank you
very much , gracias let us
go now to to Costa rica . I see uh
Minister Andrei Mr Tobar Arnaldo over
to you . Thank you .
Thank you mr Secretary of State of the
United States , Anthony Blinken .
Your Excellency Ambassador Katherine
Katherine Tai , US Trade Representative
Excellencies . Ministers of
the countries of the alliance , Ladies
and gentlemen , Costa rica would like
to enthusiastically receive this
initiative of President Biden and the
government of the United States It
seeks with 11 partners greater and more
significant regional integration to
seek social and economic prosperity for
all the links between our
countries via mechanism that
facilitates cooperation and the flow of
investment for development and that
allows for exchanging best practices
is a good platform
to promote democracy as well , respect
for the rule of law , recognition of
human dignity and the protection of our
institutions and our freedoms . From
early on in our history , Costa Rica
became a part of the commitment to
create a robust democratic state
that respects the rule of law that is
a lover of peace and democracy . Taking
into consideration the health and
education of its here . It is a
priority to us . This is the right time
to celebrate the joining
together of these values with other
countries . Today , the world confronts
multiple challenges and there are huge
questions and uncertainties . When we
think about the future
economic uncertainty , post pandemic
the consequences of climate change and
the increase in migration .
Just to mention a few are leading to
great tension in our societies . We
must act expeditiously , we
must conduct specific actions to
improve the quality of life of our
people . We must look at specific areas
so that we can make a difference .
Working together and we must make the
most of our assets and the
great number of efforts underway so
that we may strengthen our societies
and our economies when it comes to the
opportunities that our region offers ,
You can count on Costa rica to promote
this initiative based on the pillars of
democracy , economic development and
with a human centered focus so that
human beings are the center of all
decisions . I will give the floor now
to the Minister of Foreign Trade Mr
Manuel Tovar . Thank you .
Thank you very much . Good afternoon to
everyone . Mr Secretary uh antony
Blinken and Ambassador Katherine Tai
picking up on Minister Andres Tenneco's
remarks , I would like to express that
Costa rica supports an ambitious yet
practical agenda that will render
results both in the short term and in
the years to come . Costa rica has free
trade agreements with all the partners
at one and we need to take better
advantage of this platform and work
together in securing more efficient and
resilient supply chains . The region
has to be competitive to be a good
alternative to other distant markets .
Therefore , we see great opportunities
and potential in streamlining the
export import process , improving
customs infrastructure , digitalization
of processes and simplifying permits
and registrations . We should aim to
common standards and regulations ,
making it simpler to produce in
multiple countries and facilitating
multi sourcing between our countries .
Eventually , we must take a look to the
multiple free trade agreements and make
them more efficient and compatible with
accumulation and common rules of origin .
We see room for a wide range of trade
facilitation initiatives , improving
infrastructure and shipping cargo
throughout the region . The United
States has worked closely with Canada
and Mexico in improving the flow of
goods amongst their borders . We hope
that that this can serve as a reference
for all members of a Pep . So we can
all aspire to find ways for
improvements in common borders and
ports and airports . Throughout this
process , we see an important role of
the private sector . They can offer
important feedback regarding the
strengths and needs of each one of our
countries . We hope that in our
discussions we will consider their
advice and knowledge . Finally , it is
important to show that can deliver
outcomes for the region through more
trade , but also through more
investment and security in our supply
chains . I want to close by recognizing
President biden's leadership and vision
with the proposal of this uh
initiative . May this be the start of a
very fruitful and long standing
partnership . Thank you . Thank you .
Thank you both very very much . Let's
go now , pleased to the Dominican
republic . I see uh Minister Alvarez ,
Minister of Isono Roberto over to you ,
distinguished colleagues . Good
afternoon Secretary
Blinken an important event
Given the fact that the US is the
world's largest economy and by far our
most important trading partner , its
leadership inspires us into action .
COVID-19 supply chain disruptions ,
climate change , global inflationary
pressures , the volatility of the
prices of commodities , migratory flows ,
the invasion of Ukraine and others have
taken and continue to take a heavy toll
in the lives of our countries . But
these events also present an enormous
opportunity . They have raised the
curtain to a brave new world of
challenges and possibilities that
require vision and action . That's what
we're here to do carpet diem . The
scope of the challenges and
opportunities are of such a scale that
the only way to rise to the call is to
create a collective synergy that is
unique and effective . The Dominican
republic has been proactive in speech
and indeed on the urgent need to
combine efforts in order to give our
region historic turn that capitalizes
on the opportunities at hand through a
multilateral strategy that unites
efforts and builds bridges amongst our
country's people and resources . We
belong to unique region , hemisphere of
abundant resources and peace . Let us
make the Americas the brightest example
of prosperity and hope for all of our
peoples
will now give the floor to Minister .
Thank you very much Foreign Minister
Elbaradei's honorable secretary Blinken .
Distinguished Representative Ty thank
you for the invitation to this
important launch . Likewise , I would
like to extend my greetings to the
Honorable Ministers of the region
joining us today , social stability ,
economic and political stability but
characterized the Dominican republic
and made it more competitive in the
global market and has led to increased
trade and trade that continues to
increase over time in this context .
The partnership being launched today
will help to deepen Our
economic policies towards integration
that we embarked on several decades ago
and as part of our national
2030 development strategy that is being
spearheaded by our president .
Specifically , we recognized the
strategic advantage to
work with geographically and
economically close part . We can hasten
the incorporation of our goods into
regional value chains and in
making the most of near shoring
opportunities in the Americas as we
have already been doing as part of the
Alliance for Democratic
Development and Progress .
The Dominican republic aims to be part
of all global value chains and as part
of this desire we will move forward
based on the good political will being
displayed here , improving development
for all partners respecting the rules
of trade and fulfilling the
commitments of our concern , our
existing trade agreements for example .
D . R . Cafta thank you very much ,
gracias , thank you both very , very
much um to Ecuador . Now I see Minister
and Minister Prado juan Carlos floor is
yours .
Thank you very much
esteemed Secretary Blinken ambassador
tie , distinguished colleague from the
content Ecuador very
much supports this America's
partnership for economic prosperity as
a tool for promoting economic
integration cooperation investment . In
the face of the challenges and impacts
were feeling for example , as a result
of covid in Russia's invasion of
Ukraine were committed to seeking
sustainable development , economic ,
socially and environmentally speaking .
I also wanted to note that the actions
that need to be taken on infrastructure
in our countries is going to be vital
part of this partnership . We also see
criminal activities that
make it difficult to achieve
development and this has an impact on
security , the safety and the
prosperity of our peoples . It is
important to work together to fight
against the scourge . Ecuador believes
that this America's partnership will
help those countries that do not have a
free trade agreement in place to
increase our trade . This will help us ,
for example , in broccoli , if there
are no tariffs for us sending them
to the United States , this will help
our indigenous peoples here and will
help to curb the flow of migrants from
Ecuador who arrive at the border of the
United States . We believe we will all
benefit . And this America's
partnership with Panama , Costa rica ,
the Dominican republic . We are already
doing this . The agreement takes into
account some of the concerns we have in
the region about inequality and
does so in at the same time
seeking to protect vulnerable
communities . For example , indigenous
in Ecuador , we thank the United States
for this initiative . We are committed
to it and as Secretary Blinken said ,
this is a partnership of all of us and
for all of us and I will now give the
floor to Minister
from America Following on what was
mentioned by our Minister of Foreign
Affairs for the government of Ecuador .
It's highly important to participate in
this regional initiative and we're glad
that we're finally arriving to this
stage with the Joint Declaration that
allows us to be part of a new vision
for cooperation and trade that adheres
to sustainability and to the inclusion
of new and more relevant stakeholders .
Today , we're all together here to seek
the common objective of bringing
economic prosperity to the region .
Ecuador is aware that in order to
promote and strengthen its trade
relations around the world and the
region , specifically trade expansion
and trade growth should not be the end
in itself . We need to put the needs of
our citizens first . They are the
essence of our discussion . Therefore ,
the respects of worker rights , the
protection of the environment , the
inclusion of vulnerable and
historically underrepresented groups as
well as the government's governance ,
guided by democratic principles , will
always need to be the building blocks
of the commitments that we are doing
today . As a sign of the commitment of
Ecuador with this new regional vision .
We would like to highlight the work
that the country has been doing to
upgrade and improve the traditional and
non traditional features related to
trade . Consequently , I would like to
mention the modernization of our
current trade agreements and treaties
as well as the negotiations of several
others with really high standards for
recognizing labor , environmental
rights and in general , expanded the
benefits that trade can produce to all
the society , A clear and palpable
example of what cooperation can achieve .
We can mention the protocol of trade
and investments that it was signed
between Ecuador and the United States
which is enforced since 2020 2021 .
This protocol represents substantial
improvements in topics related to trade ,
facilitation and good regulatory
practices and also in topics related to
anti corruption and promotion of smes .
So the declaration of the american
partnerships for economic prosperity
constitutes an opportunity for
constructive and pragmatic dialogue .
Ecuador is willing to continue this
high level partnership that will
benefit our people both in Ecuador and
all the religion . Ecuador today
commits to join efforts with the
countries of the hemisphere to carry
out actions that will lead to
sustainable and inclusive economic
growth . Thank you so much . Thank you
both very much . Um We go now to to
Mexico we have Minister abroad Minister
Buenrostro marcello . Hi
Anthony I Anthony it's a
pleasure to greet you ambassador thai
as well as well as our colleagues with
us today . If you'll allow me to make a
brief comment , I think we should be
very , very pleased
with this
initiative that today we are all
putting forth but especially I would
like to acknowledge the interest of
President biden and Secretary
Blinken to call
for the America's partnership for
economic prosperity . It has been many
years for many years we had not had
this kind of possibility and for latin
America and the caribbean . This is a
great sign that we would like to
acknowledge . I'd like to acknowledge
you Anthony and thank you and President
biden for this invitation . The goal of
this partnership is that we all share a
reality and the
will to
improve our economies promote well
being and prosperity throughout the
Americas . That is the top priority for
Mexico for the U . S . And for all of
the countries I've heard speak this
morning , this is great news and I
would like to highlight that Mexico
takes this very seriously and we will
work intensively so that this delivers
for our peoples , a partnership for
economic prosperity in the Americas
that will lead to well being , you can
count on Mexico and once again , thank
you very much , I would like to
especially thank President biden and
Secretary Blinken , I will give the
floor to Raquel , the Minister of the
economy of Mexico , raquel . Go ahead
please thank you very much .
Secretary Blinken and U . S . Trade ,
Representative Katherine Tai , it is a
pleasure to greet all of the ministers
of the country who are part of this
partnership , the Americas Partnership
for economic prosperity . We'd
like to say that for the Mexican
government , it is a priority to work
together with countries in the
hemisphere and work on economic
development in the region . We are
convinced that this is of crucial
importance . We must consider all under
representative communities so that any
development we achieve is universal and
so that we close these social gaps that
affect us so greatly . Currently . One
of the themes of this administration
has been for the good of all and the
poorest . First we must come to
agreements that benefit benefit us all
equally because we cannot achieve
regional development when some members
of society are not receiving the
benefits of economic cooperation .
Therefore , we must make the most of
the current international situation and
make progress when it comes to
integrating all countries in the
Americas and make the most of the
challenges that have come up over the
last few years . We must achieve
cooperation when it comes to the
holistic development of our peoples .
However , we cannot overlook the debt
we have to our planet and to future
generations . We believe therefore that
it is important that we find solutions
in areas that are increasingly relevant ,
such as protecting the environment and
biodiversity . The inclusion of
underrepresented groups in our
economies and eliminating
discrimination in any of its forms . We
must work together therefore , economic
development , that is increasingly more
humane . Another extremely important
issue for the region is undoubtedly
strengthening supply chains in
strategic industries . And even though
many believe that this is an extreme
challenge , we are sure that the region
has the material resources it needs and
especially the human resources . It
needs to make progress on this
important task to do this . We need the
support and the cooperation and
especially the commitment of everyone
so that we can say in the near future
that we have achieved regional
development that benefits everyone
where no one is left behind . We
must highlight that an important issue
for the secretariat of the economy is
to distribute the benefits of trade .
These must be more inclusive . We must
prioritize under representative
communities such as women , young
people , indigenous populations and
others . We always must consider the
interests of workers and smes
no one should be left behind and no one
should be left out with the beginning
of this mechanism . We will seek to
promote better flows of investment in
the hemisphere to promote economic
growth and we are sure that we will
achieve growth in the region's
economies through actions that
decrease inequalities in
societies in the hemisphere , we will
support the most vulnerable and promote
creating well paid jobs . This
administration has a genuine concern
for economic development that is
increasingly humane . Thank you very
much . Thank you both very very
much . We go now to Panama and we have
Mr Minister Al Farrow , Janina the
floor is yours .
You honorable , Anthony Blinken
ambassador thai colleagues . Ministers
for Panama , it is an honor
and a great opportunity to all
be here to work together and join
forces with our most important and
strategic and long standing partners in
the hemisphere . Our
foreign policy strategy is very much
aligned to these trade
issues and as a country creates
consensus in the region , we will
continue to work together and create
synergies for cooperation with our
closest allies .
With our initiative and
participation for progress for people
and sustainable development . Panama
today commits as all countries here
have . It commits to dialogue and to
diplomacy as the most important
mechanism that exists to solve
crises but also is the most valuable
mechanism for cooperation and
development in the region I would like
to introduce then Federico Alfaro
Boyd , the Minister of Commerce and
Industry of Panama who will share with
with you the vision of President
Laurentino Cortisol when it comes to
our strategy for development in our
country and economic recovery for the
hemisphere . Thank you . Thank you very
much . Minister my warm greetings to
all of my colleagues in the region .
Secretary Blinken ambassador Ty it's an
honor and a pleasure to see you again
for this opportunity . New trends are
reconfiguring global value chains and
shortening supply chains in search of
better costs , less risk and greater
agility companies have a greater
interest in guaranteeing the sub supply
of their products as well as minimizing
environmental impact and reducing their
carbon footprint as a major
international transportation hub .
Panama has played and will continue to
play an integral role in providing
sustainable solutions . This
realignment of supply chain priorities
creates tremendous opportunities for
latin America with a view to have
greater integration and participation
in the global flows of goods and
services . Panama as a major logistics
hub in the region is leading decisively .
The government of President Laurentino
is focused on identifying activities
that reinforce the production chain
process and not more value to our
exports . This translates into into
less risk in terms of the volatility of
international prices of raw materials
and goods in this sense , we see near
shoring as a solution to generate more
opportunities to create added value .
For these reasons . Panama is actively
participating in regional initiatives
such as the A . D . D . And now the
american Partnership partnership . A
Pep . We see our country delivering an
entire I offered to attract investment
in the logistics sector where we
already have comparative and
competitive advantages specifically
related to the manufacturer of
pharmaceutical products and medical
devices as well as semiconductors .
Panama appreciates the support of the
United States in emphasizing the need
to analyze how countries are adapting
to better support near shoring
capabilities . Rather than simply
relying on the more limited role that
countries have played in the past . By
assuming a forward thinking approach to
near shoring , we can incentivize new
opportunities that will contribute to
building a more resilient and
dependable supply chain that allies
aligns perfectly with Panama's efforts
to diversify its exports beyond the
service industry . Put simply , we are
original catalyst for growth . Panama's
logistic platform supports the
warehousing distribution of components
manufactured by our partners at a Pep
as we develop our own manufacturing
capabilities . We are leveraging these
unique strengths to promote economic
development and regional security with
our partners in the region . We will
deepen our economic cooperation shaping
new tools for the challenges that we
face today and that we will face in the
future . We will strengthen our supply
chains to make them more resilient to
better manage unexpected crisis . We
will foster innovation in both the
public and private sectors so that
governments can better address and
preempt society's most pressing
challenges and companies can improve
their productivity while we work
together to responsibly address the
challenge posed by climate change . We
are one of the three only carbon
negative countries in the world . We
are committed with the protection of
our oceans and our most sacred forests
and jungles such as the darien forest .
Finally , I want to re emphasize the
words from ambassador tie regarding the
importance of refocusing our trade
agreements to attend the ever changing
needs of our productive sectors . We
look forward to working with the United
States and our partners in this regard .
And I thank you very much for this
opportunity . Thank you . Thank you
both very , very much . Um we turned
out to our colleagues from Peru uh and
uh let me give you the floor minister
privacy .
Thank you very much . Secretary
Blinken ambassador tie . This is a very
challenging international context for
us . The countries of the region are
still facing the aftermath of the covid
19 pandemic and this has had an
this has had an in impact on
our value chains .
We have the Russia's invasion
of Ukraine . We've seen increases in
fuel prices , oil prices and this
scenario . It is important
to work
multilaterally as we
are aware that the challenges are
shared in working together , we
can ensure prosperity for the region .
It is important therefore to have
different partners . There are spaces
for convergence . We
must however work sustainably and peru .
We have 22 free trade
agreements in place . Some of them
are poor e lateral like the
Andean agreement , we at the
MercOSur chile Mexico , the
United States Canada Singapore ,
Korea , japan , the european union ,
Costa rica Venezuela , the pacific
Alliance and we will be taken over as
president pro tempore this month .
They're also you have the transpacific
partnership like wills in
2024 . PerU will
host the apec pacific
economic forum .
Peru in this context , has
joined the Americas Partnership for
economic prosperity . This is
something that came out of the recent
summit of the Americas .
We welcome this
initiative and proposal by the United
States . Peru supports it and
believes that we can be an anchor in
the region for just
inclusive economic development and
prosperity , which is the ultimate goal
of We believe it is important
to ensure diversity and all of
the countries here reflect this
diversity
specifically .
We're interested in resilience ,
trade , the fight against poverty ,
women's empowerment
and equality , the strengthening of
value chains and supply chains , the
fight against corruption , climate
change , food security , among others .
In order to meet its objectives . It
has to be dynamic partnership , It
must be very tight , closely linked to
the problems on the ground actions will
have to lead to solutions . Therefore
it is essential that
we have a system of democratic values
that will help to ensure free trade
that benefits the population as a
hold . It is
will help us to strengthen
commercial and trade ties .
Haru
wants to be sure that this
initiative will help us to address some
of the historically vulnerable and
excluded populations . And this can be
done through more dynamic
interregional trade . That helps smes
given Peru's location , among other
factors . We believe that we're
strategic and we believe that our smes
are strategic as well . Of course , I
need to make reference to Peru's
current political situation after
the attempted coup d'etat by previous
president back in december
assumed the presidency as was
constitutionally mandated in Peru .
We are
very well aware of the
issues faced by some of the
historically vulnerable and
marginalized populations that supported
the previous president . We
are looking to pass a law . We
have a bill that's being debated to
ensure this . Peru will be addressing
some of the pressing issues we have
politically here but there will be
elections called and this will all be
done within the framework of the
constitution and in the context of rule
of law . A solid democracy will
help us to shoulder our
responsibilities and face the
challenges and to be full partners in
the Americas partnership for economic
prosperity . PerU will support the
commitments in each of the focus areas
of this initiative in benefit of all
the peoples of the region . Thank you
very much , Gracias thank you so much .
Um And last but not least we have our
colleagues from Uruguay Mr Castillo
Minister . Good
afternoon . It's only mrs ability from
Uruguay Mr Castillo cannot be present
at this moment . So , good afternoon ,
Secretary of State of the United States
until Lincoln United States Trade
Representative Katherine Tai and
colleagues from all countries present
today .
Good
afternoon . Please allow me to express
my thanks and acknowledgement as
Minister of Economy and Finance of
Uruguay for the State Department for
having put together this very important
event . This is the
manifestation of initiative announced
by President biden during the summit of
the Americas and is fully supported by
Uruguay at the time President
biden alluded to important lines of
action for this partnership . Uruguay
completely agrees among these
the importance of democracy ,
sustainable trade , the building of
resilient supply chains mitigation and
adaptation to climate change and the
promotion of private investments as
well as increased capitalization of I .
D . B . Invest covid . 19
showed us some of the
weaknesses that we have in our health
systems and education systems added to
that Russia's invasion of Ukraine had
an impact on the post pandemic recovery
and on energy prices , the prices of
raw materials and food have risen ,
causing inflationary pressure globally .
This new initiative is both open
and flexible and it is a
positive rapprochement opportunity for
the region and helps us to strengthen
ties amongst the member governments in
the coming years . This partnership
will allow us to open regional channels
of dialogue and to constructively build
agendas that are based on joint
efforts , coordinated work cooperation
and investments are essential for
achieving a equitable
economic growth objectives
and will help us as a region to
contribute to the universal targets to
the benefit of our peoples . Uruguay
is in the perfect situation to become a
very stable partner in the region and
to contribute very positively
to things like renewable
energies and high quality value added
products and do so sustainably .
Uruguay has successfully move toward
decarbonization , its economy
practically eliminating the use of
fossil fuels in the generation of
electricity and we've done so as part
of our commitments in the paris
agreement , we are working
towards a national development
strategy and green energies working
with the private sector and globally we
are innovating in sustainable financing .
I would like to highlight the recent
issue of green bonds that
seek to conserve nature and
promote resilience in the face
of climate change . We're working in
biotechnology and other sectors in
which Uruguay is in
a great position to take in foreign
investment . I wanted to highlight the
importance of the United States as our
main service export market . The
example of some of the developments we
seek to achieve . I wanted to wrap up
with three brief points first . All
countries are are in different
situation as far as integration and our
relations with the United States .
Hopefully this initiative will help to
level the playing playing field and
bring us all to similar levels of
development . That is key for Uruguay .
I also wanted to highlight Uruguay's
desire to have open and sustainable
trade through different trade
agreements . We very much look forward
to this partnership because we believe
it can be the perfect forum to deepen
relations both regionally and
bilaterally . Lastly , I wanted
to commend the launch of this
partnership today . I think this is the
most important step we are going to
bring to fruition all of our previous
efforts . You have the firm commitment
and enthusiasm of Uruguay in this
effort . Thank you very much . Um
Madame Mr thank you very very much .
And gracias a we're really delighted to
have everyone uh together today . Let
me just say in conclusion how much we
appreciate the insights that we've
heard and especially the partnership
that that we share in this initiative
um with the Americas Partnership for
Economic Prosperity . We're sending a
strong message that we intend to
respond to the challenges as well as
the opportunities of our time alongside
our partners . Uh that focus on
partnerships is why we created the
Americas Health Corps , the city's
Forward initiative , the US Caribbean
partnership to address the climate
crisis and other regional uh
initiatives . Um it's not just about
responding to the challenges , but also
about an affirmative vision for the
future , that's what's embedded in the
Americas Partnership for economic
prosperity , what we do together uh in
our region will have global effects uh
and I think and hope that it can
actually help shape a global race to
the top , not to the bottom . So simply
put , we look very much forward to
working with everyone in the in the
months ahead , including in april at
the city's summit of the Americas with
that Catherine , I'll leave it to you
to close out . Thank you so much .
Secretary of Lincoln Tony . I would
like to extend my sincere thanks to all
my fellow ministers for all of your
thoughtful insights today . And as I'm
looking around at the screens , um uh
it occurs to me that I have had a
chance to see almost all of you in
person recently , if not in the past
couple of weeks in the past couple of
months . Whether in the cont text of US
Mexico Canada apec the W . T .
O . The W . T . O . Mini ministerial .
Um and I want to express how truly
delighted I am and excited I am to have
the opportunity to work with all of you
in this grouping on a hemispheric
project . Um I'm
confident that together we can build a
fair and equitable tomorrow for our
citizens and bring lasting change and
I'm grateful to have all of US Partners
as we begin this endeavor with the
Americas partnership When he addressed
the United Nations General Assembly
President biden said that the United
States is opening an era of relentless
diplomacy to address the challenges
that matter most to people's lives .
All people's lives and trade is a
critical part of this relentless
diplomacy . All of us are here to drive
sustainable and inclusive economic
growth for our people . We share this
goal because we know that our well
being and economic security are
inextricably linked . We all know the
challenges we face . Many of our
economies are still recovery from the
covid pandemic , as many of you have
commented as well as global inflation ,
which has been exacerbated by Russia's
invasion of Ukraine which is straining
families budgets To advance our
vision for a human centric approach to
trade . All 12 of our economies must be
in this together . To deepen our
economic cooperation , strengthen our
collective resilience and advance as
many of you noted democracy and a
shared prosperity . We have a lot of
work ahead of us , strengthening our
supply chains , lifting up our small
businesses , creating green jobs ,
reinvigorating our financial
institutions . These are all priorities
that we will focus on as we begin to
fill in the details . So let's come
together and demonstrate that we can
use trade as a force for good and that
we can use this partnership as a new
model for others in our region to join .
Thank you again and I look forward to
working with all of you in the months
ahead . Thank you very much , Tony .
Thanks everyone , gracias .