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TRADE POLICY/ NEGOTIATIONS WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE WHTI:
The Secretary is a recognized leader in the Western Hemisphere Transportation
Initiative (WHTI), a product of the Summit of the Americas process.
X-20 co-chairs the WHTI Executive Committee, which met in May to conclude
preparations for the upcoming Ministerial. The Deputy Secretary attended
the Ministerial meeting hosted by Mexico on May 8-9, 2003. Background: The Secretary is a recognized leader in the Western Hemisphere Transportation Initiative (WHTI) forum, a product of the 1994 Heads of Government Summit of the Americas. DOT hosted a WHTI Ministerial meeting in December 1998 to begin the post-Summit task of improving transportation capabilities and performance throughout the hemisphere, and a Ministers’ Roundtable in October 2000 to kick-off a U.S. proposal for a Partnership for Safer Skies in the Western Hemisphere. In order to properly represent U.S. interests, it is important for the Secretary to continue to play a prominent and active role in WHTI. In
1998 the Ministers adopted a Declaration setting out their vision for
transportation in the Americas in the 21st Century and establishing
eight priority action areas. DOT took the lead in preparing a compendium
on safety and incident response best practices and exchanging information
on transportation technologies. As a result of DOT’s Safer Skies
initiative, the WHTI established a Group of Experts on Aviation Safety
and Security Assistance to develop an action plan for the improvement
of aviation safety and security conditions in the region. With funding
from the U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States, the Department
through FAA is conducting aviation safety training courses in the English-speaking
Caribbean. Last year, in conjunction with the Inter-American Development
Bank, the Department has assisted Central American countries to obtain
funding for airport improvements. Over the past years, the Ministers
established an Executive Committee, adopted Terms of Reference, and
selected Canada to serve as chair and Jamaica, Bolivia, and Peru to
serve as co-chairs for the two-year term that ended in October 2002.
Brazil is the current chair and the United States and Costa Rica are
co-chairs. Revised on
Friday, January 16, 2004
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