by These are some of the major trade and development headlines and analysis across the Caribbean region and the world for the week of March 6-12, 2016:
Regional
CARIFORUM Ministers to meet in Guyana
Antigua Observer: Issues relating to the 10th and 11th European Development Fund (EDF) will be among matters discussed here when the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) meets here next week. Read more
Cuba upward tourism trend not slowing
Caribbean News Now: Despite forecasts of the possibility of Cuban tourism failing to keep the upward trend shown in the last years, the Caribbean island’s leisure industry posted 14.6 percent growth in the first 71 days of 2016. Read more
CARICOM seeking support from Portugal on tax issues
Jamaica Observer: The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is calling on Portugal to help remove a number of Caribbean countries from a list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions developed by the European Union. Read more
Customs officers get training under CARIFORUM-EU Pact
Stabroek: Several local customs officers, as well as stakeholders in the public and private sector benefitted from a customs and trade facilitation capacity workshop, at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), GINA said. Read more
What TPP means for Latin America and the Caribbean
Brookings Institute: An agreement of this size and scope will have important implications for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and for the global trade architecture as a whole. Read more
Guyana – All Styrofoam imports banned from April
Barbados Today: Importation of styrofoam will no longer be allowed, effective April 1, with the Ministry of Finance considering tax incentives for importers who are interested in bringing in alternatives.Read more
St. Kitts & Nevis citizenship fund releases audited financial statements
Caribbean360:The St Kitts and Nevis Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) has released audited financial statements for 2012 and 2013. Read more
IMF Team Concludes Consultation with Guyana
Caribbean News Now: A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Marcos Chamon, visited Guyana during February 24–March 7 to hold discussions for the 2016 Article IV consultation. Read more
International
WTO Issues Panel Report regarding US duties on Korea washers
WTO: On 11 March 2016, the WTO issued the panel report in the case brought by Korea regarding “United States — Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures on large residential washers from Korea” (WT/DS/464).Read more
WTO farm talks chair: subsidies key to 2017 outcome
ICTSD: Addressing farm subsidies could be “key” to a negotiating outcome next year on global trade, the chair of the WTO’s farm talks said on Tuesday, as two prominent Indian experts hit back at a critique of the country’s negotiating stance on agriculture. Read more
WTO members look at way forward in agriculture talks
WTO: WTO members considered the way forward in agriculture talks at the first informal meeting of agriculture negotiations after the WTO Nairobi Ministerial Conference on 8 March. Read more
Theme of 2016 WTO Public Forum to be “Inclusive Trade”
WTO: The theme of the 2016 Public Forum, to be held at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva on 27-29 September, is “Inclusive Trade”. Read more
Brexit and Britain: What would it mean for UK trade?
Reuters: The stakes will be high for Britain’s historic role as a free-trading nation when it holds a referendum on whether to stay in the European Union on June 23. Read more
Australia, Indonesia in free trade talks
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Alicia Nicholls, B.Sc., M.Sc., LL.B. is a trade and development consultant with a keen interest in sustainable development, international law and trade. You can also read more of her commentaries and follow her on Twitter @LicyLaw.
