US And Mauritius Seek To Enhance Trade Relations

by Glen Shapiro, LawAndTax-News.com, New York

20 September 2006

Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia and Mauritian Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Cooperation Minister Madan Murlidhar Dulloo on Monday signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) aimed at strengthening and expanding trade ties between the United States and Mauritius.

The TIFA will provide a formal mechanism to address bilateral trade issues and will help enhance trade and investment relations between the United States and Mauritius.

"Mauritius’ experience demonstrates how trade and investment can fuel economic growth and development," Ambassador Bhatia stated, adding:

"The Government of Mauritius has an impressive track record on democracy, economic growth, openness to foreign direct investment, economic diversification, and the expansion of trade."

Ambassador Bhatia continued:

"The TIFA will provide an opportunity for our governments to work together to expand trade between our two countries and to work more closely on a broad range of trade-related issues, including moving the World Trade Organization Doha Development Round forward and on signing the African Growth and Opportunity Act."

Minister Dulloo concluded:

"The signature of the TIFA illustrates the fact that both our countries want to build upon our existing political and economic ties in order to increase trade and investment."

The TIFA provides a mechanism for a more comprehensive trade and investment dialogue in which the two countries can explore common objectives and review possibilities for improving trade relations between the United States and Mauritius

Under the TIFA, a United States-Mauritius Trade and Investment Council will be formed to address a wide range of subjects, including trade promotion and development, export diversification, trade capacity building, intellectual property, labor, investment, and environmental issues.

The Council will establish an ongoing dialogue that will help increase commercial and investment opportunities by identifying and working to remove impediments to trade and investment flows between the United States and Mauritius.

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