Press Releases

First Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Meeting in Mauritius, February 5 – 6, 2007

January 30, 2007

The first U.S.-Mauritius Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Meeting is scheduled to take place in Mauritius, February 5-6.  This follows the U.S.-Mauritius TIFA consultative video conferences that were held in November and December 2006. 

Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Florizelle Liser will lead the U.S. delegation, which will include officials from Departments of State, Commerce, and Agriculture.  Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Karan Bhatia will meet with the participants by teleconference.  Honorable Madan Dulloo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Cooperation, will head the Mauritius delegation.  In addition to Government officials, the U.S. delegation will meet with representatives of the Mauritian private sector.  Visits to local companies are also being planned.  The Embassy is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Cooperation to finalize a work program for the two-day council meeting.

The goal of this first TIFA Council meeting is for the two Governments to set priorities, identify objectives, establish benchmarks, outline impediments, and chart the way forward for work under the TIFA. 

The TIFA between the United States and Mauritius was signed on September 18, 2006 in Washington D.C. by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Bhatia and Mauritian Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Cooperation Minister Madan Dulloo.  The Agreement aims at strengthening and expanding trade ties between the United States and Mauritius.  The TIFA provides a formal mechanism to address bilateral trade issues and will help enhance trade and investment relations between the United States and Mauritius.