FTAA CO-CHAIRS CANCEL MEETING, AGAIN CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – A meeting of Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) Co-Chairs that was to have been convened yesterday (May 19) has been cancelled. Having been notified of this latest cancellation, Heads of Delegations were informed that a date had not been identified for a future meeting of Co-Chairs.
Trade
LAMY AND CARICOM TRADE MINISTERS DISCUSS GLOBAL TRADE ROUND
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – In remarks before a gathering of CARICOM Trade Ministers in Georgetown, Guyana today (May 13), former European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy took stock of priorities for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round. In an exchange of views, it was underscored that it is important the Round focus in a meaningful way on development. In ensuring that development assumes a central place in global trade talks, Mr. Lamy called for the WTO to be more responsive to developing countries.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will benefit from a Regional workshop on International Trade in Services set for 11-14 April in Barbados, geared to equip the Region for its new trade arrangements in the international arena and more so within the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Minister Pierre Pettigrew, the Canadian Minister of International Trade, met his CARICOM counterparts in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on March 10. The meeting was co-Chaired by Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Kenneth Valley. The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to assess progress made in beleaguered global trade talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO Doha Agenda negotiations have stalled due to fundamental differences and entrenched positions on a number of key issues.
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.
Mr. President,
The Caribbean Community deeply appreciates this opportunity to address the Security Council on the situation in Haiti.
One year ago, we were all gravely concerned about deteriorating political and security conditions in Haiti. With Haitian agreement and international support, the Caribbean Community launched a diplomatic initiative. Underpinned by the principles of democracy and good governance enshrined in the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the CARICOM initiative sought the following_
(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Trade Ministers of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States, Cuba and the Dominican Republic will participate in a meeting with the European Union Commissioner For Trade, His Excellency Peter Mandelson on Thursday, 6 January 2005. The meeting will take place in Georgetown, Guyana, where Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers are scheduled to convene the Eighteenth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Friday, 7 January [2005].
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.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO – “The workshop has been a tremendous success. It was very well attended, having brought together a diverse group of stakeholders in the regional creative industries. Importantly, this unique forum has enabled them to conceptualize and outline the interests of the industries, and identify how they can be brought forward to the negotiating table as regards the region’s external trade negotiations effort.” This was the view of Mr. Ian Randle, a participant in the forum and President of the Jamaica-based Ian Randle Publishers Ltd.