Agenda for the Tri-National Meeting
Washington, DC
May 4th-5th, 2005
Objectives:
- Create a space for reflection, exchange of ideas, and collaboration related to alternative forms of economic integration, tri-national development, and looking ahead to “what happens next” with NAFTA.
- Foster dialogue and exchange between legislators and civil society actors to further develop ideas for alternatives to the current framework surrounding free trade and tri-national development
- Identify some of the more critical impacts of 11 years of NAFTA, focusing on an analysis of both national level and sector-specific effects
- Seek consensus on possible future actions that could be taken tri-nationally among legislators and between legislators and civil society, to directly address some of critical impacts of NAFTA and look ahead to the negotiation of a “NAFTA-Plus”
May 4th, 2005
121 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
7:00-8:00 Informal gathering among legislators
- Introductions
- Presentations of the areas of emphasis in which each legislator has been working, particular concerns, and expectations for the meeting
8:00-9:00 Arrival of civil society organizations
- Introductions
- Presentations by the organizations of their areas of emphasis, particular concerns and expectations for the meeting
9:00-9:30 Wine and beverages
May 5th, 2005
1539 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
8:30-11:30 Meeting among parliamentarians
- Presentations and analysis by group (Mexico, US, Canada-NDP, Canada-BLOC Quebecois) of the critical points and real impact of NAFTA, the perspectives of the governments of each country, the particular interests of each group related to NAFTA and the possibility of NAFTA-Plus, etc.)
- Open dialogue to discuss the issues presented
- Discussion of future actions to be developed (collaborative efforts, concrete action plans, etc.)
MOTT HOUSE, 122 MARYLAND AVE. NE
11:45-1:45 Lunch
- Presented by several of the civil society organizations in Washington
- The menu will include locally produced agricultural products and fair trade coffee
1537 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
2:00-5:30 Meeting between legislators and civil society
- Presentations and analysis by the organizations present (again, divided into four groups)
- Dialogue between organizations and legislators
- Discussion of the possible press release
- Agreements regarding future actions