Canada - Colombia Free Trade Agreement

Chapter Twenty: Administration of the Agreement

Article 2001: The Joint Commission

1. The Parties hereby establish a Joint Commission, comprising cabinet-level representatives of the Parties, or their designees.

2. The Commission shall:

1. Supervise the implementation of this Agreement;
2. Review the general functioning of this Agreement;
3. Assess the outcomes of the application of this Agreement;
4. Oversee the further elaboration of this Agreement;
5. Supervise the work of all committees, working groups and country coordinators established under this Agreement and referred to in Annex 2001;
6. Approve the Model Rules of Procedure; and
7. Consider any other matter that may affect the operation of this Agreement

3. The Commission may:

1. Adopt interpretive decisions concerning this Agreement binding on panels established under Article 2106 (Dispute Settlement - Establishment of a Panel) and Tribunals established under Section B of Chapter Eight (Investment);
2. Seek the advice of non-governmental persons or groups;
3. Take any other action in the exercise of its functions as the Parties may agree; and
4. Further the implementation of the objectives of this Agreement by approving any revisions of:
   1. The Schedules to Annex 203, with the purpose of adding one or more goods excluded in the schedule of a Party,
   2. The phase-out periods established in the tariff elimination, schedule, with the purpose of accelerating the tariff reduction,
   3. The specific rules of origin established in Annex 301,
   4. The procuring entities listed in Annex 1401, and
   5. Any Uniform Regulations on Origin Procedures that the Parties may develop;
5. Consider any amendments or modifications to the rights and obligations under this Agreement; and
6. Establish the amount of remuneration and expenses that will be paid to panelists.

4. On the request of the Committee on the Environment established under the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Commission may consider modifying Annex 103 to include other Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs), or to include amendments to any MEAs or remove any MEAs listed in that Annex.

5. Any revision referred to in subparagraph 3(d) shall be subject to the completion of any necessary domestic legal procedures of either Party.

6. The Commission may review the impacts, including any benefits, of this Agreement on the small and medium-size businesses of the Parties. Towards that end, the Commission may:

1. Designate working groups to evaluate the effects of this Agreement on small and medium-size businesses and make relevant recommendations to the Commission, including working plans focused on the needs of small and medium-size businesses. Any working group recommendations with respect to trade capacity building shall be referred to the Committee on Trade-Related Cooperation for consideration; and
2. Receive information, input and views from representatives of small and medium-size businesses and their business associations

7. The Commission may establish and delegate responsibilities to committees, working groups and country coordinators. Except where specifically provided for in this Agreement, the committees, working groups and country coordinators shall work under a mandate recommended by the Agreement Coordinators referred to in Article 2002 and approved by the Commission.

8. The Commission shall establish its rules and procedures. All decisions of the Commission shall be taken by mutual agreement.

9. The Commission shall normally convene once a year, or upon the request in writing of either Party. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, sessions of the Commission shall be held alternately in the territory of each Party, or by any technological means available.

Article 2002: Agreement Coordinators

1. Each Party shall appoint an Agreement Coordinator and notify the other Party within 60 days following the entry into force of this Agreement.

2. The Agreement Coordinators shall jointly:

1. Monitor the work of all committees, working groups and country coordinators established under this Agreement, referred to in Annex 2001;
2. Recommend to the Commission the establishment of such committees, working groups and country coordinators as they consider necessary to assist the Commission;
3. Coordinate preparations for Commission meetings;
4. Follow up with any decisions taken by the Commission, as appropriate;
5. Receive all notifications and information provided, pursuant to this Agreement and, as necessary, facilitate communications between the Parties on any matter covered by this Agreement; and
6. Consider any other matter that may affect the operation of this Agreement as mandated by the Commission

3. The Coordinators shall meet as often as required.

4. Each Party may request in writing at any time that a special meeting of the Coordinators be held. Such a meeting shall take place within 30 days of receipt of the request.

Annex 2001

Committees, Working Groups and Country Coordinators

1. Committees:

1. Committee on Trade in Goods (Article 220);
   1. Subcommittee on Agriculture (Article 221),
   2. Subcommittee on Trade Facilitation (Article 420)
2. Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (Article 504);
3. Committee on Investment (Article 817);
4. Committee on Financial Services (Article 1114);
5. Committee on Procurement (Article 1414);
6. Committee on Trade Related Cooperation (Article 1802)

2. Working Groups:
Working Group in Cross-Border Trade in Services (Article 912)

3. Country Coordinators:
Country Coordinators on Technical Barriers to Trade (Article 609).