by Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of February 10-16, 2020! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
The USTR published a report reiterating its past critiques of the now defunct WTO Appellate Body.
Coming up this week, CARICOM Heads of Government will meet in Barbados February 18-19 for their 31st Inter-sessional Meeting. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who was scheduled to attend, had to cancel at the last minute due to address current infrastructure disruptions.
REGIONAL NEWS
European Union, CDB Launch Standby Facility for Capacity Building
The Voice: The EU and CDB today launched a new round of the Standby Facility for Capacity Building. Read more
Can the Caribbean end its brain drain?
The Voice (UK): In recent years, concerns have been growing that the Caribbean region is losing a high percentage of its skilled population. Here, Lyndon Mukasa examines the origins and possible solutions to this exodus of top talent. Read more
Remittance fees too high in the Caribbean
Trinidad Express: Remittance fees are too high in the Caribbean, says economist Marla Dukharan. “Remittance fees in the Caribbean are nearly double those of Central America, which is also another heavily dependent region on remittances. Read more
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
New ACP-EU Partnership: Moving forward towards a new partnership fit for the future
Modern Diplomacy: Today, new impetus was given to the post-Cotonou negotiations on a new agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) as the two chief negotiators agreed on the way forward. Read more
Cambodia: EU Partially Suspends Trade Preferences
Human Rights Watch: The European Commission on February 12, 2020, announced the partial suspension of Cambodia’s preferential trade preferences with the European Union after the government failed to address serious human rights concerns, Human Rights Watch said today. Read more
UK to outline post-Brexit trade vision as France warns both sides could ‘rip each other apart
Euronews: The British government is to outline its vision for a trade deal with the EU in Brussels on Monday, as both sides crank up the rhetoric ahead of the start of formal post-Brexit talks next month. Read more
UK government spent £500,000 on travel to Brexit negotiations
The Guardian: Huge bill on travel to and from Brussels reflects Theresa May’s drawn-out approach to negotiations. Read more
EU Parliament approves EU-Vietnam free trade and investment protection deals
Europarl: The EU-Vietnam trade agreement, the “most modern and ambitious agreement ever concluded between the EU and a developing country”, got Parliament’s backing on Wednesday. Read more
Trump: Time to negotiate ‘very seriously’ with EU on trade
Euractiv: President Donald Trump said Monday (10 February) the time has come to pursue trade negotiations with the European Union which he said imposes “incredible” barriers to US goods. Read more
Iran-EU Trade Down 71.5%
Financial Tribune: Iran exported €701.14 million worth of commodities to EU, indicating a 92.59% fall, and imported €4.52 billion in return to register a 49.16% year-on-year decline. Read more
‘Pakistan-Turkey Free Trade Agreement talks in April’
AA: Top Pakistani commerce official says 2 sides agreed to begin long-awaited FTA negotiations in April. Read more
‘A reform-or-die moment’: Why world powers want to change the WTO
CNBC: The United States, Europe and China have clashed over trade policy for several years and tensions could continue for decades without serious reform, experts have told CNBC. Read more
Explained: What does India’s removal from USTR list of developing countries mean?
Indian Express: Until February 10, 2020, India was on the USTR’s list of developing countries, making it eligible for preferential treatment against CVD investigations and de minimis thresholds. It will no longer get this benefit. Read more
Coronavirus Threatens to Blow Up Trump’s Energy Trade Deal With China
Foreign Policy: The goals were never realistic, but now Beijing has good reason to back away from its purchase commitments to Washington. Read more
Pompeo in Senegal: Africa caught in US-China trade war
Al Jazeera: The US is sending mixed messages to the continent, they want to do business, but are not open to all African countries. Read more
Kenya will be in breach of EAC, AfCFTA rules in proposed trade deal with America
The East African: Kenya’s proposed free trade deal with the US has put it in the crosshairs as critics say the planned bilateral agreement would be a breach of regional and continental trade protocols. Read more
STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO
NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG
The Caribbean Trade & Development Digest is a weekly trade news digest produced and published by the Caribbean Trade Law & Development Blog. Liked this issue? To read past issues, please visit here. To receive these mailings directly to your inbox, please subscribe to our Blog below:
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