June 8, 2023

Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – January 22nd-28th, 2017

Photo credit: Pixabay

Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development Digest for the week of January 22-28, 2017 where we share some of the major trade and development headlines from across the Caribbean and the world.

This week was another chaotic week in world news. Dominating this week’s headlines were the series of executive actions signed by President Donald Trump in his first full week in office. See my article about this. However, another major development was the meeting between President Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May whose government lost its Supreme Court Article 50 Brexit this week. Some good news is that only 2 more ratifications are needed for the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement to finally come into force.

Below we present the major headlines. For past issues of our weekly Caribbean Trade & Development Digest, please visit here.

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REGIONAL HEADLINES

Falklands wants trade ties with Barbados

Barbados Today: The Falkland Islands, the British Overseas Territory in South America, is on a mission to improve trading links with the Caribbean, with a special interest in Barbados. Read more

Why Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname should matter to India

Swarajya: As India seeks greater engagement on the international stage, one area where its efforts are producing limited results is Latin America. India has invested neither sufficient time nor resources in appreciating the potential that Latin America offers and its forays into the region have been hesitant and somewhat faltering. Read more 

Trump could be good for Jamaica

Loop Jamaica: President Trump and his incoming government could be good for Jamaica, according to Finance Minister Audley Shaw. Read more 

INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES

Nepal Ratifies the Trade Facilitation Agreement

WTO: Nepal has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), making it the 108th WTO member to do so. Only two more ratifications from members are needed to bring the TFA into force. Read more 

Thailand Packs Faster Conclusion of RCEP Negotiations

SGGP:The US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is likely to help the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) wrap up faster than expected, said Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, adding that the Southeast Asian country supports faster conclusion of the regional deal, reported in Bangkok by VNS.  Read more 

TPP: Why the US Withdrawal Could be a Boon for China

Knowledge@Wharton: With the U.S. earlier this week pulling out from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), that trade agreement is all but dead. Read more 

France’s Holland: EU to talk trade with Pacific Alliance

VOA: French President Francois Hollande said on Monday that he would seek to bolster trade and investment with the Pacific Alliance trade bloc in joint negotiations with the European Union.Read more 

Peru, Colombia vow to stand with Mexico against Trump

NY Post: Peru and Colombia vowed to stand with Mexico as the country faces an uncertain economic future and grapples with a crisis with the United States just days into U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Read more 

Trump, Abe agree in Phone to meet in Washington next month

Bloomberg: President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to hold a summit in Washington on Feb. 10 and affirmed the importance of their alliance, Abe told reporters, after the U.S. strained ties by withdrawing from a Pacific trade pact. Read more 

Chile to exit TPP and seek new trade deals with Asia-Pacific Countries 

CCTV: Chile announced it will exit the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, but still seek to expand trade with the Asia-Pacific region, local newspaper El Mercurio reported on Tuesday. Read more 

Look to South America not US: Bolivia tells Mexico

Press TV:As Mexico-US ties sour over the new US administration’s controversial anti-immigration policies, Bolivia urges Mexico to turn to the South American countries rather than Washington, citing capitalism’s demise. Read more 

UK Supreme court rules Brexit requires vote by Parliament

Washington Post: Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled that the British government cannot initiate the “Brexit” process of leaving the European Union without first getting the approval of Parliament. Read more

Belarus Resumes WTO Membership Negotiations 

WTO: WTO members welcomed the resumption of WTO membership negotiations for Belarus when the Working Party on the country’s accession met on 24 January 2017 – 12 years after its last formal meeting. Read more

Panel established in dispute over Chinese agricultural subsidies 

WTO: The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 25 January agreed to establish a panel to examine subsidies provided by China to domestic producers of wheat, Indica rice, Japonica rice and corn. Read more

WTO welcomes two new Appellate Body Members

WTO: Two new members of the Appellate Body, Ms Hong Zhao of China and Mr Hyun Chong Kim of Korea, were sworn in at a ceremony at WTO headquarters on 25 January 2017. Read more 

NEW ON CARIBBEAN TRADE LAW & DEVELOPMENT BLOG

A Week of Trumpism in ‘Action’

UK Government Loses Article 50 Brexit Appeal; Parliamentary Vote Needed

President Trump signs executive order pulling US out of TPP

WTO Ministers hold Informal Meeting on Davos Sidelines

Liked this issue? Read past issues of our weekly Caribbean Trade & Development Digest, please visit here.To receive these mailings directly to your inbox, please follow our blog.

caribbeantradelaw

The Caribbean Trade Law and Development Blog is owned and was founded by Alicia Nicholls, B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc. (Dist.), LL.B. (Hons), a Caribbean-based trade and development consultant. She writes and presents regularly on trade and development matters affecting the Caribbean and other small states. You can follow her on Twitter @LicyLaw. All views expressed on this Blog are Alicia's personal views and do NOT necessarily reflect the views of any institution or entity with which she may from time to time be affiliated.

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