Ambassador Susan C Schwab and Ukrainian Minister of Economy Bohdan Danylyshyn have signed a Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement (TICA) that will provide a forum to address trade issues and help build trade and investment relations between the United States and Ukraine. Ambassador Schwab signed in Washington, and Minister Danylyshyn signed in Kyiv.
“The agreement will provide an important tool for both parties to strengthen the already robust trade and investment relationship between our two countries, and will assist Ukraine's efforts to expand its economy and diversify its markets,” said Ambassador Schwab.
“As demonstrated by the World Trade Organization's recent approval of Ukraine's terms of accession to the WTO, Ukraine is making important strides to modernize its economy and attract foreign trade and investment. We expect this agreement to provide a solid foundation for discussion of the full range of trade and investment issues.”
The TICA will establish a forum for discussion of bilateral trade and investment relations and will help build those relations. The TICA provides for the formation of a joint U.S.-Ukraine Council on Trade and Investment, which will address a wide range of trade and investment issues including market access, intellectual property, labor, and environmental issues.
The Council will also help to increase commercial and investment opportunities by identifying and working to remove impediments to trade andinvestment flows between the United States and Ukraine. This agreement is substantially similar to the Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) that the United States has negotiated with a number of trading partners.