CARICOM Ministers at the Fourteenth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which met in Georgetown, Guyana on 31 January - 1 February 2003 expressed deep concern regarding the challenge to the European Union (EU) sugar regime launched by Brazil/Australia at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in September 2002. This challenge, if successful, would be disastrous for CARICOM Countries whose economies depend vitally on their sugar industries. Ministers considered this challenge as the most serious threat to CARICOM’s most important agricultural crop.

As Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, I would like to thank the Ministry of External Affairs and International Trade and Civil Aviation for affording me the privilege of presenting this address on the occasion of the re-launch of your Council on Economic External Trade, on the eve of the historic Meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, on the Revival of the Regional Economy. I could not but notice the spirit of determination inherent in this national effort and heartily congratulate those involved.

Officials and Ministers of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), one of the chief organs of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), meet in Guyana on 23-25 January, to deliberate on a host of trade related and economic issues affecting the regional integration movement.

The COTED Officials will first meet on 23-24 January at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel to set the agenda for the Ministerial session on 25 January.