CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The Sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial got underway today, amidst mounting concern over the prospects for a successful outcome for the six-day meeting in Hong Kong. At issue is the impasse over concessions in Agriculture, the principle stumbling block for progress in negotiations to date.
Trade
AMENDMENT OF TRIPS AGREEMENT WELCOMED BY CARIBBEAN
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “The Caribbean welcomes the recent consensus agreement by WTO Members to amend the TRIPS Agreement and allow Members with insufficient or no pharmaceutical product manufacturing capacity the facility allowed other Members to address their public health needs through compulsory licensing of patented inventions.” This was the reaction of Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr.
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 – Caribbean Trade Ministers meeting in Barbados yesterday (November 19), in preparation for the Sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, which will take place in Hong Kong December 13 to 18, emphasized that unless development issues are given prominence in the negotiating agenda, the Ministerial is not likely to end in agreement. This is fundamental for small, vulnerable Caribbean countries.
The development dimension of the Doha Round is vitally important for the Caribbean, but continues to be neglected in the negotiating agenda.
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.
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.
BARBADOS’ TRADE MINISTER TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN WTO MINISTERIAL SUMMIT
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados Dame Billie Miller was elected by the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council Friday (July 29) as a Vice-Chair in the bureau of the Chair of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference, to be held in Hong Kong this December.
Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of Hong Kong, China Mr.
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.
MILESTONE FOR SMALL ECONOMIES IN GLOBAL TRADE TALKS CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “The proposal represents a milestone for small economies in global trade talks,” said the Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, reacting to a communication (WT/COMTD/SE/W/13/Rev.1-An Approach to Framing Responses to the Trade-Related Problems of Small Economies) tabled by twenty-two countries at the World Trade Organization (WTO), in late May.