CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The Chairperson of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference is set to make his rounds through the Caribbean this week. He visits the Region at a time of mounting uncertainty amongst the smallest and most vulnerable Caribbean Members of the WTO over the benefits to be derived from being a part of the WTO system, in light of the treatment of “development issues” in global trade talks and recent developments concerning a key commodity export - bananas. Below is an op ed by Hon. Petrus Compton, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation, St.
CARICOM
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of Hong Kong, China Mr. John Tsang will be in the Caribbean during the first week of November. Secretary Tsang is expected to visit Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, to be held in Hong Kong from December 13 to 18. He is slated to meet with Barbados’ Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dame Billie Miller, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Hon.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – CARIFORUM[1] Trade Ministers and EC officials will meet in Saint Lucia at the end of the month, to review progress in Phase II of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations, provide political instructions on the future orientation of those negotiations and consider issues germane to Phase III.
WTO BANANA RULING DEVASTATING BLOW TO VULNERABLE CARIBBEAN ECONOMIES
Region’s Banana-Producing Countries Risk being Squeezed out of Market
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Caribbean banana exporting countries have reacted with alarm to a ruling handed down Monday (August 1) by World Trade Organization (WTO) Arbitrators’ against the EC proposed tariff of €230 per tonne on third country banana imports under its Tariff Only system, that states it would not maintain total market access for MFN banana suppliers.
Regrettably, the arbitration panel did not make clear what it would consider to be an adequate
INTERIM WTO AGREEMENT IN DOUBT, SAYS BERNAL CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “It is doubtful that agreement on “First Approximations” can be reached by the end of July,” said Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, reflecting on what could be achieved at next week’s scheduled World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council meeting. That meeting had been slated as a deadline for a set of interim agreements to be arrived at for Doha Round talks, in advance of a key WTO Ministerial in December.
NEW GLOBAL REALITIES DEMAND NEW CARICOM TRADE POLICY GROS-ISLET, SAINT LUCIA – While Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Countries are committed to and are active participants in international trade negotiations, some uncertainty has emerged amongst Member States concerning the benefits to be derived and costs entailed. There is also mounting concern over the scope and pace of the adjustment process, which would result from the conclusion of any or all of these negotiations. These were the sentiments of Jamaican Prime Minister Most Hon. P.J.
SURINAMESE DIPLOMAT ELECTED AS NEXT OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal welcomed the election Tuesday evening (June 7) - on the occasion of the XXXV Meeting of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - of Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin to be the next Assistant Secretary General of the OAS.
CARICOM REAFFIRMS INTEREST IN FTAA CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “CARICOM Countries are prepared for the possible resumption of Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations.” This according to the Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal. “The Region is actively positioning itself to re-shape the ‘vision’ of the FTAA, in accordance with Regional development goals and priorities,” he added.
CARICOM AND CANADIAN TRADE OFFICIALS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WAY FORWARD IN TRADE TALKS CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS - “Both sides felt that the meeting was constructive. Today’s encounter has provided impetus for forward momentum in a process that is the precursor to the commencement of formal negotiations for an enhanced trade arrangement between CARICOM and Canada.” This was the view of the Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Ambassador Dr.