CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – A World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council meeting was convened, February 11. There was consensus in the General Council on chairpersons for various WTO bodies. Barbados’ representative to the WTO, H.E. Ambassador Trevor Clarke, is set to take up the chairmanship of the Committee on Trade and Development. A considerable amount of the WTO’s work on trade and development issues takes place in this Committee. It also serves as a focal point for consideration and coordination of technical assistance work on development in the WTO. WTO members consider issues appertaining to the trade of developing countries in the Committee on Trade and Development. Reacting to the significance, to the Caribbean, of Ambassador Clarke heading the Committee, Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, said “the Committee has been involved in important work in special and differential treatment, and small economies”.