Term Slug
world-trade-organisation

On Eve of WTO Ministerial, Caribbean cautions against further Slippage on ‘Development Issues’

The Word Trade Organization’s (WTO) biennial Ministerial Conference gets underway this week in Hong Kong. With the six-day Sixth WTO Ministerial poised to start tomorrow, there have been a series of setbacks in global trade talks, that in large measure have been brought on by an unwillingness on the part of certain countries to yield concessions in respect of liberalizing agricultural markets, resulting in a scaling back of the agenda for the Ministerial. Ahead of the Ministerial, the Caribbean has been expressing concern at how ‘development issues’ are finding expression in on-going talks.

Amendment of TRIPS Agreement Welcomed by Caribbean

AMENDMENT OF TRIPS AGREEMENT WELCOMED BY CARIBBEAN CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “The Caribbean welcomes the recent consensus agreement by WTO Members to amend the TRIPS Agreement and allow Members with insufficient or no pharmaceutical product manufacturing capacity the facility allowed other Members to address their public health needs through compulsory licensing of patented inventions.” This was the reaction of Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) Ambassador Dr.

Savarin: WTO Falling Out Of Favor With The Caribbean

SAVARIN: WTO FALLING OUT OF FAVOR WITH THE CARIBBEAN CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – With the Sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference just a week away, Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Labour Hon. Charles Savarin has written an op ed (see below), that highlights on-going concerns that the Caribbean has with global trade talks.

Caribbean: Sugar Price Cut Unconscionable, Devastating

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.

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.

WTO Rules Against Banana Tariff, Europe Must Negotiate Fair Resolution

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.

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.

EPA Chief Negotiators’ Discussions A Success

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.
Subscribe to World Trade Organisation