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.
World Trade Organisation
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.
SMALL, VULNERABLE STATES AT PERIPHERY OF WTO, SAYS HARRIS CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The Chairperson of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference met with three key Caribbean Trade Ministers in the Region this week, amid dire warnings that a series of high-level meetings in the coming days needed to spur momentum in flagging global trade talks or efforts to put a deal together in time for the year-end Ministerial would be at risk of failure. Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of Hong Kong, China Mr.
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.
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.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Chief Negotiators from the six Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions negotiating an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union met in London, October 4 to 5.
The objectives of the co-ordinating meeting were to take stock of and review ongoing negotiations in the respective regions engaged in EPA talks. It was also aimed at providing a strategic orientation of the respective regional negotiations.
Principal Negotiator for EPA Negotiations and Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr.
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.
SCALED BACK COMMISSION BANANA PROPOSAL TO HAVE CRIPPLING EFFECT ON CARIBBEAN
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Caribbean banana exporting countries have expressed deep disappointment at yesterday’s announcement by the European Commission of a revised banana tariff proposal of €187 per tonne on third country or most favored nation (MFN) banana imports under a Tariff Only system, to come into effect as of January 1, 2006.
Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Labour Hon. Charles Savarin reacted to yesterday’s proposal with dismay.
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