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Caribbean Trade Ministers Plan For WTO Ministerial

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

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.

The WTO must do more for its Smallest, most Vulnerable Members

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.

Chairperson Of WTO Ministerial To Meet With Key Caribbean Trade Ministers

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.

CARIFORUM And EC To Consider Next Phase Of Negotiations

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – CARIFORUM[1] Trade Ministers and EC officials will meet in Saint Lucia at the end of the month, to review progress in Phase II of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations, provide political instructions on the future orientation of those negotiations and consider issues germane to Phase III.

WTO Banana Ruling Devastating Blow To Vulnerable Caribbean Economies

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

Interim WTO Agreement in Doubt, Says Bernal

INTERIM WTO AGREEMENT IN DOUBT, SAYS BERNAL CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “It is doubtful that agreement on “First Approximations” can be reached by the end of July,” said Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, reflecting on what could be achieved at next week’s scheduled World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council meeting. That meeting had been slated as a deadline for a set of interim agreements to be arrived at for Doha Round talks, in advance of a key WTO Ministerial in December.

New Global Realities Demand New CARICOM Trade Policy

NEW GLOBAL REALITIES DEMAND NEW CARICOM TRADE POLICY GROS-ISLET, SAINT LUCIA – While Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Countries are committed to and are active participants in international trade negotiations, some uncertainty has emerged amongst Member States concerning the benefits to be derived and costs entailed. There is also mounting concern over the scope and pace of the adjustment process, which would result from the conclusion of any or all of these negotiations. These were the sentiments of Jamaican Prime Minister Most Hon. P.J.

Surinamese Diplomat Elected as Next OAS Assistant Secretary General

SURINAMESE DIPLOMAT ELECTED AS NEXT OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal welcomed the election Tuesday evening (June 7) - on the occasion of the XXXV Meeting of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - of Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin to be the next Assistant Secretary General of the OAS.

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