CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The Fifth Meeting of CARIFORUM-EU Principal Negotiators was convened in Barbados on March 27-28. A Joint Statement (appended to this News Release), which takes stock of the one and a half day encounter, was issued this afternoon at a Joint Press Conference, in which both the CARIFORUM and EU Principal Negotiators participated. The meeting of Principal Negotiators was co-chaired by Ambassador Richard Bernal, Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, representing CARIFORUM and Mr.
European Union
SAVARIN: WTO FALLING OUT OF FAVOR WITH THE CARIBBEAN
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – With the Sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference just a week away, Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Labour Hon. Charles Savarin has written an op ed (see below), that highlights on-going concerns that the Caribbean has with global trade talks.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “The decision of the EU to proceed with such a hefty price cut is outrageous and unconscionable, and as though to add insult to injury EU beet sugar producers will now receive compensation covering 64.2% (inclusive of an additional €2.2 billion) of the loss incurred by the price cut. In contrast, a meagre €40 million has been offered to ACP sugar producers as compensation.” This was the reaction of Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Trade and CARICOM Ministerial Spokesperson on Sugar Hon.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – A ruling handed down by World Trade Organization (WTO) Arbitrators October 27 on the proposed European Union banana tariff has met with deep shock and disappointment across the Caribbean. The Arbitrators ruled that the proposal would not maintain market access for third country or most favoured nation (MFN) suppliers.
CARIFORUM-EU LAUNCH CRUCIAL PHASE OF TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT TALKS
The third phase of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARIFORUM countries and the European Union was launched today in Saint Lucia.
CARIFORUM Trade Ministers and European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson met on the occasion of the Second CARIFORUM-EC Ministerial EPA Meeting. They adopted the Joint Report on negotiations that took place in Phase II, reviewed progress in EPA negotiations so far, and provided political instructions on the future orientation of those negotiations.
GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA – “For small developing economies, trade is an important mechanism for nurturing economic growth. In the current international trading environment, however, there is a scaling down and in some cases dismantlement of special arrangements for key Caribbean export products. As a result, there has been dislocation in key agricultural sectors.” This was the message delivered by CARIFORUM’s Principal Negotiator for EPA Negotiations and Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr.
GROS ISLET, SAINT LUCIA – “CARIFORUM-EU negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement are at a propitious juncture, having successfully advanced through two preliminary phases. Emerging from the current Regional Integration phase, both sides have a better understanding of their respective economic spaces, as the two regions move closer to docking. We have had a successful Phase II, and stand ready to emerge from it with momentum.
CARIBBEAN CONCERNED OVER EC SUGAR REFORM PROPOSALS Steep Price Cuts to have Devastating Effect on Region’s Fragile Economies CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The European Commission unveiled plans Wednesday (June 22) for an overhaul of the Common Market Organisation for sugar. The Commission reform proposals cut guaranteed prices, totalling 39 percent in the price of white sugar over a period of four years.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – As part of efforts to strengthen the participation of and dialogue with regional civil society stakeholders as regards CARIFORUM-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations, a Caribbean Non-State Actors (NSA) Network was launched in Barbados, November 13. The regional network of NSAs, embracing private sector umbrella groupings, trade unions, farmers’ associations, consumer groups, academics and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), at large, was characterized by Ambassador Dr.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Senior Caribbean and European Commission (EC) officials met in Barbados today, November 12. The encounter marked the Second Meeting of CARIFORUM-EC Principal Negotiators; the first having been convened in Brussels, July 15, 2004.
CARIFORUM officials were led by Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) and Caribbean Principal Negotiator on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and the EC team was headed by Mr. Karl Falkenberg, Director DG-Trade.