These are some of the major trade and development headlines and analysis across the Caribbean region and the world for the week of September 25-October 1, 2016.
For past issues, please visit here.
Regional
Dominican officials meeting heralds stronger trade ties
Dominican Today: The foreign ministers of the Dominican Republic, Miguel Vargas and of Haiti, Pierrot Delienne, on Thursday announced a meeting of the Joint Bilateral Commission set for October 19, when topics pending since the last meeting in Port au Prince will be addressed. Read more
Dominican Agro Sector: Time to renegotiate DR-CAFTA Trade Deal
Dominican Today: Dominican Republic’s agro producers (Confenagro) on Thursday said the DR-CAFTA free trade deal must be reviewed and evaluated, as stipulated in executive order 260-16 issued Sept. 17. Read more
Can Upscale Chocolate turn the tide on Haiti’s devastating deforestation
Scroll.in: When a tiny Quebec chocolate maker won a gold prize at this year’s premier International Chocolate Awards for a bar made with Haitian cocoa beans, it rocked the specialty chocolate world. The cocoa beans had been on the market for less than a year, and a Haitian chocolate bar had never before received the award. Read more
European Union to consider approval of accord with Cuba
CaribbeanNewsNow: The European Union on Thursday proposed that its member states to consider approval of a political and cooperation accord with Cuba aimed at normalizing relations with the Caribbean nation.Read more
The Sharing Economy and Caribbean Tourism – Op Ed by CTO Head Mr. Hugh Riley
Caribjournal: The marketplace is evolving. Ten years ago no one imagined homeowners opening their doors and welcoming strangers to bunk at their tropical beach bungalows or private cozy homes for affordable rates. Forget about standing out in the street waving frantically to flag down a taxicab or worrying about having enough change to hop on a bus. Those days are over. Read more
International
WTO Panel to Discuss India’s Paper on TFA in Services on Oct 5
The Indian Express: The first meeting of a WTO panel to discuss the new concept paper floated by India on a proposed trade facilitation agreement in services will be held on October 6 in Geneva. India is pitching for this agreement with a view to reduce transaction costs by doing away with unnecessary regulatory and administrative burden on trade in services.Read more
WTO cuts 2016 world trade growth forecast to 1.7%
Reuters: The World Trade Organization cut its forecast for global trade growth this year by more than a third on Tuesday, reflecting a slowdown in China and falling levels of imports into the United States.Read more
CITES to vote on legalising Rhino horn trade
IOL: Parties wait with baited breath to find out if two-thirds of the 182 parties at CITESCOP17 will vote in favour of legalising rhino horn.The 17th meeting of the parties for Cites breaks tomorrow for two days, and early next week for some important votes to take place. Read more
US-Africa Trade Relationship in Focus at AGOA Forum
ICTSD: On 22-26 September, African and US ministers, trade officials, civil society, and business sector representatives gathered in Washington D.C. to discuss the implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) at the 15th AGOA Forum. Held once a year, the event gives all stakeholders the opportunity to exchange on potential avenues for enhancing US-Africa economic ties. Read more
EU and US Trade Negotiators seek to get TTIP talks back on track
TheGuardian: Trade negotiators will meet in New York next week to search for common ground on the controversial EU-US trade deal, which has been buffeted by strong opposition on both sides of the Atlantic. Read more
Lack of Transparency in PACER-Plus paints bleak future for Pacific peoples
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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.
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