4.1	Update on Ozone Negotiations

On February 16, 2000, Canada and the United States met for their first negotiating session on an Ozone Annex to the 1991 Canada/US Air Quality Agreement, which is intended to reduce the transboundary flow of ozone and ozone precursor pollutants.

The meeting led to an agreement on several issues concerning the Annex, including:

• Timing: obtain a signed agreement by the end of the year 2000;
• Scope: the Annex will target emission source regions in each country that contribute significantly to transboundary air pollution;
• Pollutants: the Ozone Annex would focus on nitrogen oxides (NO _X ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the major pollutants responsible for the creation of air pollution;
• Elements: the Annex will set emissions targets and implementation schedules including provisions for reporting on relevant emissions and air quality to ensure continued progress towards meeting the goals of protecting human health and the environment.

The Parties will next meet on this Annex in Washington in mid-June.