Página 34 - Coordinación de Servicios de Información

But, domestic policies are not sufficient to increase the readiness of
the Central American islhmus, the Catibbean and
(READlNESS OF SMALL COUNTRfES, Cont.):
¡he small South Ame rican countries. It is also indispensable to in–
tensify intraregional cooperation in the areas of public administra–
tion, trade, finance, investment and technology ..
With regard to trade, it would be advisable to ag ree on a n
asymetricalliberaliza tion of agricultrual and manu fac turing trade
wilh a longer transition period in smaller countries, but wilh well
defined time limits compatible with World Trade Organization
(WTO) agreements. Furthermore, reciprocalliberalization should
be accompafued by rules of origin Ihat are less strict for small econo–
mies, and a lso by greater assurance of access to Ihe markets of big
countries, especia lly for sensitive goods Ihat cons titute a signifi–
cant proportion of Ihe export offerings of the smaller economies.
Making a political decision to promote multilatera l as opposed to
bilateral negotia tion procedures with small countries could also
provide vital support fo r the participation of these economies in
FTAA.
It would also be possible to create incentives [fo r] intraregional in–
ves tment in small countries by granting concessional credits or fi s–
cal incentives. Anolher way of s timulating investment would be to
convert sma ll countries' high and susta ined trade deficits into fi–
nancing for public o l' private projects undertaken by countries with
surpluses in the countries with deficits. In general, it would be ap–
p ropria te to secure the active participation of the hemisphere's pri–
va te sectores in the fo rmulation and negoti ation of the measures
agreed upon in favour of the small countries in order to ensure the
business community's commitment to these measures."
(U.N.-ECLAC (Ecol1omic Commissiol1for Latin Amcrica alld lile Caribbean), 13 de
marzo de 1996
32 English fo r Economists