CLDP Attorney Michael Cofield participated in the U.S.-Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement annual meetings on December 11-13, 2017 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. On Monday, December 11, 2017, CLDP briefed the TIFA-level Working Groups on the work and results of the CLDP-facilitated Expert Level Working Groups on customs issues, standards, and sanitary/phytosanitary measures. On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, the TIFA Council, consisting of officials from the United States, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, approved all of the recommendations made by the CLDP-facilitated Expert Level Working Groups. Both the TIFA Council and TIFA Working Groups encouraged the Expert Level Working Groups to continue their work identifying topics appropriate for considering regionalized approaches, such as harmonization, mutual recognition, and trade-facilitating rules and procedures. Such regionalized approaches would facilitate economic development and market access in Central Asia by ensuring greater transparency, efficiency, and consistency in the rules and practices most affecting intra-regional and international trade. The U.S. Trade Representative has released the Joint Statement of the TIFA Council at the following link: 

https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2017/december/joint-statement-council-meeting-us