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Joint CARIFORUM-EU Press Release

CARIFORUM-EU LAUNCH CRUCIAL PHASE OF TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT TALKS The third phase of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARIFORUM countries and the European Union was launched today in Saint Lucia. CARIFORUM Trade Ministers and European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson met on the occasion of the Second CARIFORUM-EC Ministerial EPA Meeting. They adopted the Joint Report on negotiations that took place in Phase II, reviewed progress in EPA negotiations so far, and provided political instructions on the future orientation of those negotiations.

Scaled Back Commission Banana Proposal To Have Crippling Effect On Caribbean

SCALED BACK COMMISSION BANANA PROPOSAL TO HAVE CRIPPLING EFFECT ON CARIBBEAN CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Caribbean banana exporting countries have expressed deep disappointment at yesterday’s announcement by the European Commission of a revised banana tariff proposal of €187 per tonne on third country or most favored nation (MFN) banana imports under a Tariff Only system, to come into effect as of January 1, 2006. Dominica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Labour Hon. Charles Savarin reacted to yesterday’s proposal with dismay.

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

Barbados’ Trade Minister To Play Key Role In WTO Ministerial Summit

BARBADOS’ TRADE MINISTER TO PLAY KEY ROLE IN WTO MINISTERIAL SUMMIT CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados Dame Billie Miller was elected by the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council Friday (July 29) as a Vice-Chair in the bureau of the Chair of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference, to be held in Hong Kong this December. Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology of Hong Kong, China Mr.

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.

Milestone for Small Economies in Global Trade Talks

MILESTONE FOR SMALL ECONOMIES IN GLOBAL TRADE TALKS CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – “The proposal represents a milestone for small economies in global trade talks,” said the Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, reacting to a communication (WT/COMTD/SE/W/13/Rev.1-An Approach to Framing Responses to the Trade-Related Problems of Small Economies) tabled by twenty-two countries at the World Trade Organization (WTO), in late May.

Lamy and CARICOM Trade Ministers Discuss Global Trade Round

LAMY AND CARICOM TRADE MINISTERS DISCUSS GLOBAL TRADE ROUND CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – In remarks before a gathering of CARICOM Trade Ministers in Georgetown, Guyana today (May 13), former European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy took stock of priorities for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round. In an exchange of views, it was underscored that it is important the Round focus in a meaningful way on development. In ensuring that development assumes a central place in global trade talks, Mr. Lamy called for the WTO to be more responsive to developing countries.

Canadian Minister talks Trade in the Region

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Minister Pierre Pettigrew, the Canadian Minister of International Trade, met his CARICOM counterparts in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on March 10. The meeting was co-Chaired by Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Kenneth Valley. The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to assess progress made in beleaguered global trade talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO Doha Agenda negotiations have stalled due to fundamental differences and entrenched positions on a number of key issues.

Chile rallies behind Port-of-Spain, front-runner in Secretariat race

CHILE RALLIES BEHIND PORT-OF-SPAIN, FRONT-RUNNER IN SECRETARIAT RACE
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS - Port-of-Spain has formally secured the backing of Chile, in connection with CARICOM’s bid for the Permanent Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
Chile is the latest country to signal its endorsement of Port-of-Spain.  Recently, Port-of-Spain received the backing of Peru.

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