CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – A series of consultations aimed at identifying national and regional measures to better facilitate trade in keeping with the commitments being negotiated under trade facilitation within the World Trade Organization (WTO) began here on Monday.
The consultations to be held throughout the seven-member Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States are aimed at simplifying and harmonizing international trade procedures such as payment of fees, access to information and cooperation between customs and other authorities. 
Programme Officer at the OECS Secretariat Trade Policy Unit, Alicia Stephen, said the sub-region has since August last year been reviewing the draft text of the agreement and assessing its ability to implement the provisions.