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Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development Digest for the week of February 12-18, 2017! I am pleased to share some of the major trade and development headlines and analysis across the Caribbean region and the World.
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REGIONAL
CARICOM to implement system to measure results of implementation
CARICOM Today: The reform process that is underway in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is working towards a Results Based Management (RBM) system that will measure the tangible results of regional integration mechanisms.Read more
Government looking to strengthen relations with EU
JIS: The [Jamaican] Government is examining ways to more effectively utilise the CARIFORUM-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to strengthen Jamaica’s trade relations with the 27-member EU. Read more
Minister Rhuggenaath highlights Business Opportunities with Dominican Republic
Curacao Chronicle: The Dutch Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic organized a meeting of partners and representatives of the public and private sector of the Dominican Republic with the Minister of Economic Development of Curaçao, Eugene Ruggenaath. Read more
Guyana to sign agreement with the EU
Jamaica Observer: Guyana says it will sign the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) under the European Union Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (EU/FLEGT) initiative, which Georgetown adopted in 2003. Read more
Guyana opens High Commission in Trinidad & Tobago
Stabroek: Guyana has opened its first ever diplomatic mission in Port-of-Spain, which is expected to enhance bilateral relations with Trinidad and Tobago. The new High Commission, headed by High Commissioner Bishwaishwar ‘Cammie’ Ramsaroop-Maraj, replaces Guyana’s Honorary Consulate in the sister Caricom state. Read more
CARICOM to hire lobbyists to avoid FATCA fallout
Daily Express: CARICOM countries will jointly contribute some US$240,000 to lobbyists to act on behalf of Caribbean-based banks to avoid censure and loss of correspondent banking access in the face of the looming Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).Read more
INTERNATIONAL
Asia eyeing bilateral trade pacts with the US after Trump ditches TPP
Singapore Business Times: EVERYTHING old is new again when it comes to trade deals. Read more [Requires subscription]
TPP members to decide its fate in May – Mustapa
New Strait Times: Eleven Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) members are expected to decide on the future of the pact in May this year during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministerial meeting in Vietnam. Read more
European Parliament gives green light to CETA
GTR: The European Parliament has voted in favour of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada and taken another defiant step toward greater free trade in the face of growing protectionism. Read more
Froman: Withdrawing from Trade Agreements not the Answer
PlanetPrinceton: Compelling economic and strategic arguments exist for keeping agreements like the Trans Pacific Partnership, former US Trade Representative Michael Froman said on Tuesday. Read more
World Trade Outlook Indicator suggest moderate trade momentum in Q1 2017
WTO: The WTO’s latest World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTOI) suggests that global trade growth will continue to build moderately in the first quarter of 2017 after having strengthened in the final quarter of last year. Read more
Sri-Lanka Singapore free trade agreement
Hiru News: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a Facebook post that the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement will hopefully be completed this year. Read more
Indonesia files appeal against WTO panel ruling on agricultural import measures
WTO: Indonesia filed a notice of appeal on 17 February 2017 in the cases brought by New Zealand and the United States in “Indonesia – Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and Animal Products” (DS477 and 478). Read more
Trump says NAFTA deal with Canada will only be “tweaked”
CTV: After his first face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he only plans to “tweak” the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada, while his administration has a lot more work to do with Mexico. Read more
EU preparing legal challenge against Donald Trump’s US Border Tax Plan
Telegraph: EU lawyers are preparing to mount a legal challenge against President Trump’s hugely controversial US border tax proposals in what could be the biggest case in World Trade Organisation history. Read more
Bangladesh to sign free trade agreement with Sri Lanka soon
ColomboPage: A free trade agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is currently being discussed to boost the bilateral trade and the governments will sign the agreement soon, Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said. Read more
Thailand to India: Speed Up Decision on free trade pact
Business Line: Thailand wants India to fast-track its decision on the proposed full-fledged free trade agreement (FTA) with the country to increase trade and investment flows. Read more
NEW ON CTLD BLOG
EU-Canada CETA Approved by European Parliament
“What’s Next for NAFTA?” FITT Trade Elite Chat Recap
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