What is the OAS background on Trade?
As an institution, the OAS has been involved in the trade area for many years. In 1970 a Special Committee for Consultation and Negotiation was established to be a standing body and to serve as the basis for internal discussion and negotiation between the United States and the other countries of the OAS on regional development issues, especially trade. After the first Summit of the Americas in December 1994, the OAS, through the newly-created Trade Section, devoted its efforts in the trade area to providing technical and analytical support to the negotiating and other bodies set up under the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) process. This effort continued through three years of preparatory work and six years of formal negotiating meetings. The FTAA negotiations have been at a standstill since the last formal meeting of the Trade Negotiating Committee in February 2004. The OAS has continued its work in the trade area through a strengthened mandate to carry out enhanced capacity-bui
