Novedades  News from the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade

Volume 5, Number 4 April 1998

Database Offers Online Purchase of Documents

Documents from the InterAmSM database collection are now available for online purchase. Visitors to the Center's Web site can buy translations and all other documents previously available only to InterAmSM subscribers.
According to Raúl Rodríguez, InterAmSM   editor, “This is the fastest way for InterAmSM  non-subscribers to access information. It is also the cheapest way, because there is no research fee.”

InterAmSM  is a comprehensive Internet site featuring a collection of trade-related laws, legal documents and other information concerning countries in Latin America. The database is updated daily and covers a wide range of areas, from transportation to environment, banking to labor law, intellectual property to credit.

To purchase documents from the database, users must have Internet access and an e-mail address.

How to purchase a document
From the Center’s Web home page at www.natlaw.com, go to the InterAmSM  database site. There, you will be able to search a document by country. Within each country, documents are classified under “Primary materials” and “Topical areas.” Once you find the document, single click on it. You will be asked for a password. Type “buy” in the “User name” box and then hit enter. A purchase order form will appear. Once approved for payment, you will be able to view the document you purchase. It will also be sent to you via e-mail immediately.

The majority of laws are available for $5. English translations of some documents, priced individually, are also available. For pricing information and to receive documents by fax or by mail, please consult the Center’s Web page “Documents on Demand” at www.natlaw.com/ondemand.htm.

For more information on purchasing documents online, contact George Arden, 520/622-1200, e-mail: natlaw@natlaw.com.

Center’s Online Pages Linked to Hundreds of Sites

From Mexico to Bolivia and Spain to South Africa, electronic access to the Center’s work is more and more widespread. An Internet search of the term “National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade” yields hundreds of hits. Government agencies, universities, and public and private organizations around the world have linked their sites to the Center’s Web pages, thus recognizing the Center as a resource for inter-American free trade information.
Some interesting examples of links recently found online:

• The Bolivian consulate in Seville, Spain, refers to the Center’s collection of Bolivian laws (under www.natlaw.com:80/bolivia/bolivia.htm.)

• An investigative firm and protection agency performing investigations for Mexican businesses and nationals searching advice on private U.S. investment decision has a link to the Center (under www.wapd.ord/other/steel.htm.)

• Connection MMIC -Droit Cybernétique, a French-written site dedicated to cyberlaw, lists the Center in its international law link (under www.mmic.net/mmic/legal/index_e.html.)

• The Society for Chemical Hazard Communication offers a link to the Center and its publication on chemical emergency service capabilities (under http://schc.org/links.htm.)

Listserv User Base Global

In 1996, the Center launched LAT-LAW, an online legal discussion group on issues related to trade and investment in Latin America. Since its inception, the listserv has gained momentum, growing from a few recipients to more than 250 members from 15 countries. This has made LAT-LAW a useful tool for anyone looking for help on locating a particular law in the Western Hemisphere, or to discuss trade-related issues in the Americas. Most of the Inter- American Trade Report’s contributors — experts who live and work in the countries they write about — have joined the listserv, enhancing the quality of online discussion. LAT-LAW messages are archived weekly and are searchable. Information: Raúl Rodríguez, e-mail: raulr@natlaw.com.

How to join the listserv
To join the listserv, send the following e-mail message:

To: listserv@listserv.arizona.edu
Subject: (leave this blank)
Message: subscribe lat-law (your name)
You will receive a welcome message upon subscription.

To send a message to the network, send the following e- mail message:

To: lat-law@listserv.arizona.edu
Subject: your subject
Message: your message
Your message will be forwarded to all LAT-LAW members.

Agenda

On March 5, Center staff members David Eaton and Felipe García, as well as Center member Mark Raven, participated in the second meeting of the Maquiladora Cross-Border Promotion Committee, a bilateral contact group dedicated to defending the maquila industry in political battles in the U.S. The group, which met in El Paso, Texas, consists of SECOFI officials, leaders of maquila associations and various industry experts.
On March 23-25, David Eaton spoke at the Mexcon ’98 conference in San Diego, CA. His presentation focused on the regulatory environment of wastewater treatment in Mexico.
On March 26-27, Amy Mignella, the Center’s Environment Project coordinator, presented her views on the future role of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, during a seminar on judicial cooperation along the U.S.-Mexico border, held in Albuquerque, NM. The May issue of Novedades will report more extensively on the seminar, which was organized by the Center in cooperation with the U.S.-Mexico Conflict Resolution Center.

Director to Join Premier of Border Academy Conference

Center president and founder Boris Kozolchyk will be the lead speaker in a session on economic issues at the upcoming Border Academy Conference. The conference will be held in Tucson June 21-July 4. Dr. Kozolchyk will also chair a binational panel of speakers specializing in law and trade. The other experts include Maximo Carvajal Contreras, head of the College of Law at the Universidad  Autónomo Nacional de México in Mexico City; and Napoleón Cantú Cerra, a senior partner in a major law firm in Monterrey, Mexico, and a member of the Center.

The Border Academy Conference is a two-week interdisciplinary program that will explore political, economic and social issues relevant to the 2,000-mile-long border between Mexico and the United States. Organized jointly by the University of Arizona’s Mexican American Studies & Research Center and Columbia University’s Biosphere 2 Center, the conference will host prestigious speakers, such as General Wesley Clark, supreme allied commander of the U.S. forces in Europe, Doris Meissner, commissioner for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, and long-time NAFTA supporter Congressman Jim Kolbe. Participation is limited to 50 persons. Registration deadline: May 1. For more information on the program, please contact Tom Gelsinon, 626-8213, e-mail: ttg@u.arizona.edu.

Calendar of Events

APRIL 14-15, VIÑA DEL MAR, CHILE
Economic Integration, Labor Law and Social Security in the Americas
Jointly organized by the Canadian Association of Labor Lawyers (CALL) and the law firm Martineau Walker, the conference will analyze the effect of various free-trade treaties on social legislation as well as their impact on labor relations. The conference will also explore cooperative projects involving business, union and government organizations. Contact: Claude Melançon, 514/ 525-3414, e-mail: jurlex@cam.org.

APRIL 26-28, WASHINGTON DC
BTA II Conference
The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) will organize a conference entitled “Influencing the Process,” which will focus on critical issues affecting free trade and the quality of life along the U.S.-Mexico border. Contact: BTA, 800/ 333-5523.

MAY 21-22, CORAL GABLES, FL
Latin America Banking Summit
The summit will provide a forum for in-depth discussion of the future of the banking industry in Latin America. Organized jointly by the Economist Conferences and Federación Latinoamerican de Bancos (FELABAN). Contact: Elizabeth Jones, 800/938-4685.

MAY 24-29, LIMA, PERU
IABA Annual Conference
The Inter-American Bar Association (IABA) will focus on “The legal profession and globalization.” Contact: IABA, 202/393-1217; fax: 202/292-1241.

JUNE 3-5, MONTERREY, NL, MEXICO
"Quality for the Border" Conference
The U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association (USMBHA) will host its 56th annual meeting. The theme is “Quality for the Border.” The conference will bring together health professionals and individuals interested in contributing to the improvement of health along the U.S.-Mexico border. Contact:  USMBHA, 915/ 581-6645; e-mail: officer@usmbha.org.

Media Coverage

•“Murder of U.S. executive places spotlight on Mexico’s justice system,” by Kevin Hall, The Journal of Commerce, Jan.12, p.1A. The article cites the Center’s effort to “broker compromise legal reform among banks, notaries and others potentially affected by changes to business-protection laws.”
•“Mass Production; Foreign assembly plants; outpacing local industries in Mexico,” by Enrique Rangel, Dallas Morning News, Feb. 1, 1998, p.1H. Some Mexican cities are getting more dependent on maquiladora employment, the story reports, quoting David Eaton on the future of the maquiladora industry. Mr. Eaton is the Center’s maquila project coordinator.

InterAm_SM Updates
 

NEW BRAZILIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ADDED TO DATABASE
The InterAm_SM database recently acquired a new law regulating environmental matters in Brazil. Law 9.605 establishes a new structure for administrative sanctions imposed for harming the environment. Parties violating the law can be fined up to $50 million. Sanctions target mainly those who damage forests, rivers and protected natural zones. One of the most important aspects of the law relates to liability. The law establishes liabilities not only for the company charged with harming the environment, but also for their managers. Also significant is that non-monetary sanctions, such as prohibiting participation in government procurements or acquisition of preferential loans from the government, can also be imposed. See www.natlaw. com/Brazil/topical/en/lebren/lebren6.htm.

Brazil
(See www.natlaw.com/brazil/brazil.htm)
•Acordo entre a República Federativa do Brasil e a República Argentina sobre Cooperação em Matéria Ambiental.
•Lei 8212 Dispõe sobre a Organização da Seguridade Social, Institui Plano de  Custeio, e dá outras Providências.
•Lei 8.213  Dispõe sobre os Planos de Benefícios da Previdência Social, e dá outras Providências.
•Lei 1521 Altera Dispositivos da Legislação Vigente sobre Crimes contra a Economia Popular. 27-XII-1951.
•Lei 9.514 Dispõe sobre o Sistema de Financiamento Imobiliário, Institui a Alienação Fiduciária de Coisa Móvel e dá outras Providências. 21-XI-1997.
•Decreto 1,041 Income Tax Regulations. 12-I-1994.
•Lei 4.502 Dispõe sobre o Imposto de Consumo e Reorganiza a Diretoria de Rendas Internas.  30-XI-1964.
•Lei 9.605, de 1 2.02.98 Dispõe sobre as sanções penais e administrativas derivadas de condutas e atividades lesivas as meio ambiente, e dá outras providências.
•Decreto 87.981 de 23/12/1982 Aprova o Regulamento do Imposto sobre Produtos Industrializados (artigos 1 e 2.)

Mexico
(See www.natlaw.com/mexico.htm)
•Reglamento de la Ley Federal de Competencia Económica.  04-III-1998.
•Resolución Miscelánea Fiscal para 1998 y anexo 1. 09-III-1998.

Peru
(See www.natlaw.com/peru/peru.htm)
•Ley 26.887 General de Sociedades. 05-XII-1997.
•Decreto Legislativo 716 Promulga Norma sobre Protección al Consumidor. 07-XI-1991.
•Decreto que crea la Comisión Técnica de Tarifas de Servicios Públicos Energía Minas. 03-X-1992.
•Ley 26786 de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental para Obras y Actividades. 13-V-1997.
•Ley 26631 Dictan normas para Efecto de Formalizar Denuncia por Infracción de la Legislación Ambiental. 20-VI-1996.
•Ley de Propiedad Industrial. 26-VIII-1996.
•Ley de Fomento del Empleo. 18-VIII-1995.

Treaties
(See www.natlaw.com/treaties.htm)
•Acuerdo por el que se dan a conocer las modificaciones a la sección B del anexo al artículo 6-03 y al anexo al artículo 6-21 del Tratado de Libre Comercio celebrado entre los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, la República de Colombia y la República de Venezuela, según acuerdos de la Comisión Administradora del propio Tratado. 27-II-1998.
•Acuerdo por el que se dan a conocer las modificaciones al anexo al artículo 5-03 del Tratado de Libre Comercio celebrado entre los Estados Unidos Mexicanos y la República de Bolivia, según acuerdo de la Comisión Administradora del propio Tratado. 02-III-1998.

VENEZUELA
(See www.natlaw.com/venez/venez.htm)
•Ley de Protección al Consumidor. 05-VIII-1974
•Ley sobre Normas Técnicas y Control de Calidad.  13-XII-1979.

Recent Headlines from Inter-American Trade Report

HEMISPHERIC
•“Title Insurance in Latin America,” by José Manuel Pallí.
•“Prospects for Meaningful FTAA Negotiations Clouded on Eve of Santiago Summit,” by David Gantz.

MEXICO
•“Title Insurance: Focus on Mexico,” by Mitch Creekmore.
•“Pharmaceutical Market in Mexico Undergoes Important Reforms,” by Alejandro Pérez-Serrano.
•“Copyright Enforcement in Mexico,” by Richard Neff.

NOVEDADES
VOL. 5, NO.4

EDITOR
Virginie Drujon-Kippelen
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Lisa Button

NOVEDADES is published monthly by the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, a non-profit research and educational corporation whose purpose is to facilitate trade and investment in the Western Hemisphere.

To have your name added or removed from the NOVEDADES mailing list, and/or to receive the newsletter by e-mail, please contact Virginie Drujon-Kippelen at the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, 111 S. Church Ave., Suite 200, Tucson, AZ 85701-1629.
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e-mail: vkippelen@natlaw.com
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