Caribbean Trade Law and Development

Month: September 2020

  • Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – September 13-19, 2020

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – September 13-19, 2020

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of September 13-19, 2020! We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    And then there were five! The race for who will be the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has narrowed from eight candidates to five: Amina Mohamed (Kenya), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria), Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri (Saudi Arabia), Yoo Myung-hee (South Korea), and Liam Fox (The United Kingdom).Read more here.

    A WTO dispute settlement panel found that additional tariffs imposed in 2018 by the US on Chinese goods contravened the US’ obligations under international trading rules. Read the panel report here. The WTO’s latest Services Barometer shows “modest gains in some key sectors, suggesting a degree of resilience in the face of the pandemic”. Read more here.

    Regionally, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo made a state visit to Guyana this week where he also met with the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), H.E. Irwin LaRocque. The renewal of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), due to expire at the end of this month, was among the topics discussed during the meeting. Read more here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Pompeo asks Suriname, Guyana to favour US business over China

    Al Jazeera: Pompeo becomes the first US secretary of state to visit the two South American states where oil was recently discovered. Read more

    CARICOM SG raises economic fallout from pandemic with Pompeo

    Stabroek: The severe economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic on CARICOM countries was one of the issues raised yesterday by Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque with visiting US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. Read more

    OECS Foreign Ministers Discussed Blacklisting Of Tax Havens By European Union

    St Kitts Nevis Observer: The meeting addressed issues of critical concern to the Organization and its Member States including key developments in the international arena; the ongoing negotiations between the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPs) and the European Union (EU) on a new Agreement post-Cotonou; blacklisting of States as “non-cooperative tax jurisdictions” by the European Union, BREXIT and its implications for Cariforum/UK Trade and Economic Relations; and strategic joint diplomatic and commercial engagement in specified jurisdictions. Read more

    Caribbean countries record 50 per cent decline in visitor arrivals in first six months of 2020

    Jamaica Observer: Caribbean countries have recorded a 50 per cent decline in tourist arrivals up to the month of June this year, a senior official of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) said earlier this week. Read more

    Barbados to establish diaspora unit and four new embassies

    BGIS: The Diaspora Unit, according to Dame Sandra, will be a platform for advancing Barbados’ economic interests abroad through the Barbadian diaspora and Friends of Barbados communities, which were described as under-used assets with regard to their networks, skills and resources. Read more

    Why Congress Needs to Renew Caribbean, GSP Trade Programs Now

    US Chamber: Washington is no stranger to “must pass” legislation, and the end of the fiscal year on September 30 and the recent lapse in several pandemic response measures rightly command congressional attention. But lawmakers should not overlook the need to renew two soon-to-lapse trade programs that support American jobs: The Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Read more

    Jose Mai: Time to put agriculture first in Belize

    Breaking Belize News: Веlіzе ѕhоuld lооk tо Мехісо fоr а раrtіаl ѕсоре аgrееmеnt оn ехроrt, аnd tаkе аdvаntаgе оf оur раrtnеrѕ tо rеbuіld аgrісulturе thrоugh аn ехраndеd рrоgrаm іn ѕсhооlѕ. Read more

    Gov’t Pledges To Put Brakes On JSWIFT Hiccups

    Jamaica Gleaner: The Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, in responding to a Gleaner article about the Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT) published on Tuesday, said the portal will soon become much swifter. Read more

    Cuba shuts down interprovincial transportation due to new COVID-19 fears

    Reuters: Cuban state media reported on Saturday interprovincial transportation would be shut down and a curfew in Havana extended until the end of the month as a surge in COVID-19 cases in the capital spreads to other areas. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Brexit: NI told to start work on checkpoints at sea ports

    BBC: A letter from the UK government to Stormont’s Agriculture Department instructs it to start work on check-points at NI’s sea ports without delay. The letter, seen by BBC News NI, says it is critical checks are in place, stating such moves are in accordance with the Northern Ireland protocol. Read more

    Biden or Trump, no guarantee of a post-Brexit U.S.-UK trade deal

    Reuters: U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden’s recent warning that Britain must honor Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace agreement to secure a U.S. trade deal adds new complexity to already tough trade talks between the United States and the U.K. Read more

    Tariff showdown with Trump a shallow victory for Canada

    Niagara Falls Review: Donald Trump’s decision to cancel tariffs on Canadian aluminum imports is a short-term win for Ottawa. In the long run, however, it is anything but. Read more

    A brewing U.S.-China tech cold war rattles the semiconductor industry

    CNBC: As trade tensions mount between the U.S. and China, the U.S. semiconductor industry fears a tech cold war could disrupt the global supply chain. Now companies on both sides of the Pacific are trying to develop strategies to mitigate risk — whether it’s hoarding supplies or looking at shifting the location of production facilities. Read more

    How Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Permanently Change the Travel Trade?

    TravelPulse: As with all monumental global events, the coronavirus pandemic will create permanent change throughout the world, including the travel advisor community. Read more

    U.S. calls off tariffs on Canadian aluminum — for now

    CBC (Canada): The United States hit the pause button on tariffs on Canadian aluminum today, agreeing to withdraw current penalties — at least until after the presidential election in November. Read more

    US companies seeking tariff relief faced red tape, delays

    AP: Companies seeking relief from President Donald Trump’s taxes on imported steel and aluminum ran into long delays and cumbersome paperwork, a federal watchdog found. Read more

    Global service trade decline shows signs of bottoming out – WTO

    Reuters: A contraction in global trade in services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is showing signs of bottoming out, the World Trade Organization said on Thursday as its trade barometer index fell to a record low. Read more

    Top UN economists warn of crises of our own making if global ‘megatrends’ left unchecked

    UNCTAD: Five human‑made “megatrends” will continue to dominate and frustrate global efforts to put the world on a more sustainable and prosperous path, unless urgent policy interventions to influence them are taken now, the UN Economist Network warned today in a new report. Read more

    Nigeria working to attract more foreign direct investments to prepare for AfCFTA – Trade Minister

    Nairametrics: Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, has said that Nigeria is actively working to attract more foreign direct investments into key industries to meet the demands of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Read more

    Zimbabwe: Rules of Origin Key to Success of AfCFTA

    AllAfrica: The protocol of trade in goods is comprised of 32 articles and nine annexes in the Africa Continent Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Annex 2 of the protocol of trade in goods focuses on rules of origins and is complemented by various appendixes. Read more

    Ghanaian businesses need support to ‘win’ under AfCFTA – AGI

    Ghanaweb: Business setbacks such as high cost of power, access to capital, among others, remain a concern for Ghanaian industries, and if the government wants to “win” with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it needs to ensure businesses are supported to become competitive, the Accra Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo, has said. Read more

    Mauritania Finalizes AfCFTA Implementation Strategy

    AllAfrica: The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the ECA Office in North Africa will hold today in Nouakchott (Mauritania) a workshop to validate the national strategy for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Read more

    Ukraine, Turkey restart free trade agreement talks

    MENAFM: Ukraine and Turkey have restarted the negotiation process on signing a free trade agreement. Read more

    Most Canadians don’t understand trade deals, but support free trade: report

    iPolitics: Survey findings released by the federal government suggest Canadians have little understanding of their country’s international trade agreements, including the recently negotiated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Read more

    Do the WTO and the 1972 Free Trade Agreement guarantee Swiss access to the EU market?

    Swissinfo.ch: The authors of a popular initiative to limit immigration to Switzerland from the 27-nation European Union say a “yes” vote will not affect Swiss businesses’ access to the EU market. A fact check shows the claim to be misleading. Read more

    India engaging with ASEAN to review FTA: Piyush Goyal

    Financial Express: In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said in the India-ASEAN Economic Ministers Consultations held on August 29, both sides instructed the senior officials to engage to determine the scope of the review. Read more

    France says opposes EU-Mercosur trade deal over deforestation concerns

    Buenos Aires Times: France opposed to free-trade deal in its current form due to “major” concerns about deforestation in the region, the government said on Friday. 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:

  • Caricom SG holds discussions with US Secretary of State

    Caricom SG holds discussions with US Secretary of State

    (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque had fruitful discussions with United States Secretary of State Mr Michael Pompeo at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters, Turkeyen, Guyana on Friday 18 September.

    The discussions included exchanges on the Covid-19 Pandemic and the severe economic fall-out being experienced by CARICOM Member States, the renewal of the Caribbean Basin Trade and Partnership Act (CBPTA), the de-risking of regional banks by US financial institutions and co-operation under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

    The Secretary-General took the opportunity to thank Mr Pompeo for the response by him and US Treasury Secretary Mr Steve Mnuchin to the issues raised in a letter to them by the then Chair of the Community, the Honourable Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados earlier this year. The Community sought US support for initiatives to assist in combatting among other things, the economic fall-out from the pandemic.

    Ambassador LaRocque emphasised the need for CARICOM Member States to have access to concessional development financing which is denied to them due to the criteria applied of GDP per capita and the classification of Member States as middle income in that context. This access, he noted, was critical as the Region sought to emerge from the grave economic crisis brought on by Covid-19 as well as to build resilience to natural disasters.

    The preceding is a press release from the Caricom Secretariat.

  • Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – September 6 – 12, 2020

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – September 6 – 12, 2020

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of September 6-12, 2020! We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    The third phase of the race to select the next World Trade Organization Director-General commenced this week. Read this write-up from IISD here. The WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body has released its list of remaining reviews for 2020. The OECS-WTO Members are on the provisional list for 2021, which was also released.

    The United Kingdom (UK) and Japan signed the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement this week, making it the UK’s first post-Brexit trade deal. The UK government has also made a major step towards joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

    In the meanwhile, UK-EU talks on a post-Brexit trading arrangement remain fraught with tension, with increased pessimism about an orderly split. The latest drama is the Boris Johnson government’s Internal Markets Bill introduced and given its first reading in the House of Commons on September 9. If passed, it would unilaterally override the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the EU and be in violation of international law.

    This week, the US House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee held a hearing to consider the renewal of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) which expires at the end of September. The witness testimonies and the recording from the hearing may be viewed here.

    REGIONAL

    Caribbean Countries Call for Implementing Urgent Solutions to Support Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond

    ECLAC: Authorities from more than 25 countries met with ECLAC and other multilateral organizations at the Caribbean Development Roundtable and the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee. Read more

    Barbados to woo luxury travel market

    Barbados Today: Government is embarking on a tourism recovery plan with industry partners that will see the island going after more business from the luxury travel market segment. Read more

    Dominica to launch entrepreneur visa with 2-year path to citizenship

    Investment Migration Insider:In a press release issued today, Roseau-based Advance Global Partners announces it is partnering with the government of Dominica to implement a new Entrepreneur Visa program under which those who invest from US$50,000 and spend three months a year in the country would qualify for naturalization in two years. Read more

    Canelle Farms GM speaks on issues in exporting agricultural produce

    Loop St. Lucia: The general manager of Canelle Farms, a company that exports agricultural produce to several Caribbean islands, has explained some of the challenges such a business is facing. Read more

    US Secretary of State to visit Guyana

    Stabroek: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to visit Guyana on September 17-18, according to well-placed sources. Read more

    Some local SME’s can benefit from Caribbean Export/EU COVID-19 grants

    Stabroek: Guyana is among several countries, member states of the Caribbean Export Development Agency that can access a newly developed Direct Supports Grant facility launched by the Agency in collaboration with the European Union (EU) that will enable business enterprises CARIFORUM member countries to access funding that will help them respond to the impact of the pandemic on their businesses. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL

    COVID-19: Shipping data hints to some recovery in global trade

    UNCTAD: The number of ships pulling into ports to unload and load containers rebounded in many parts of the world in the third quarter of 2020, according to new UNCTAD calculations. This offers a hopeful sign for world merchandise trade, which suffered a historic year-on-year fall of 27% in the second quarter. Read more

    Trump Threatened Then-WTO Chief With U.S. Withdrawal, Book Says

    Bloomberg: President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the World Trade Organization during a contentious phone call with the group’s then-leader, according to a new book by journalist Bob Woodward. Read more

    Biden’s hands may be tied on Trump’s China tariffs, trade experts say

    CNBC: “Damaging,” “reckless” and “disastrous” are some of the words Joe Biden has used to describe tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on allies and rivals alike. He may keep some in place anyway if he is elected president of the United States in November. Read more

    Who will be the Biden trade czar if he wins in November?

    Reuters: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is tapping some of the most experienced trade professionals in Washington to help chart a new course on trade if he is elected. Read more

    US, China trade barbs and blows via ASEAN

    Asia Times: In a shot across China’s bow, Southeast Asian nations expressed their concern over disputes and militarization in the South China Sea by openly welcoming a greater role for the US in the maritime region. Read more

    Canadian tariffs on U.S. products coming within days

    CBC (Canada): Canada will retaliate within days against American aluminum tariffs, with plans to announce a series of counter-tariffs early next week. Read more

    Canada urged to halt trade talks with Brazil due to Amazon deforestation

    Global News: The federal government is being urged to halt trade talks with Brazil after another summer of record-breaking fires in the Amazon rainforest. Read more

    Here’s what it means to be a WTO Developing Country

    Bloomberg: President Donald Trump says it’s not fair for China to receive preferential trade benefits as a developing nation at the World Trade Organization. Trump’s argument is that China — the largest economy in the world after the U.S. — should not enjoy the kind of preferential trade treatment that’s really intended to bolster much poorer nations. It’s “one of the reasons they’ve taken advantage of us,” Trump told attendees at the Economic Club of New York. “We’re considered the big, fat cow. And no longer.” Read more

    WTO leadership race seen as hostage to U.S. election

    Reuters: The World Trade Organization’s effort to select a leader entered a new stage this week as ambassadors from 164 member countries met with senior officials for private ‘confessionals’ to say who they support. Read more

    UK signs first major post-Brexit trade deal with Japan

    BBC: The UK has struck its first major post-Brexit trade pact after signing a deal with Japan that aims to boost trade between the countries by about £15bn. Read more

    Brexit: PM defends planned changes to Withdrawal Agreement

    BBC: Boris Johnson has urged MPs to support a bill which modifies the Brexit deal he signed with the EU in January. The PM said the Internal Markets Bill would “ensure the integrity of the UK internal market” and hand power to Scotland and Wales. He also claimed it would protect the Northern Ireland peace process. Read more

    Brexit: Lords could block PM’s plan to override withdrawal deal

    Sky News: As well as fury from European capitals, the PM has also angered those within his own party ahead of parliamentary votes. Read more

    Withdrawal Agreement: Brexit plans break international law by giving UK right to interpret deal with EU, minister admits

    iNews: The Government will break international law with new proposals to change the meaning of the Withdrawal Agreement, a senior minister has admitted. Brandon Lewis confirmed that legislation published on Wednesday will override part of the Brexit deal agreed last year, but insisted the breach would be “very specific and limited”. Read more

    Brexit: Trade talks hang in balance as UK rejects EU ultimatum

    BBC: Talks over a trade deal with the EU are hanging in the balance amid a stand-off over the UK’s plans to override part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. Read more

    UK takes major step towards membership of Trans-Pacific free trade area

    Gov.uk: The UK has taken a major step in the process of joining CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), one of the world’s largest and most dynamic free trade areas.International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, alongside the current chair of the CPTPP Commission, Mexican Economy Minister Graciela Márquez, opened discussions between senior UK trade officials and Chief Negotiators from all 11 members of the Partnership to discuss potential UK accession. Read more

    U.K. must lower expectations in post-Brexit negotiations with Canada: trade experts

    iPolitics: Existing trade standards with Britain will continue once the Canada-U.K. agreement expires at the end of the year, but the U.K. will need to lower its expectations for a future deal with Canada, say trade experts. Read more

    UK-Canada trade deal back in focus as talks restart

    City AM: Hopes of securing a post-Brexit free trade deal with Canada were given a boost today after trade secretary Liz Truss announced the UK had kickstarted discussions. Read more

    Ireland set to lose key trade portfolio after European Commission reshuffle

    Euronews: Ireland looks set to lose the EU’s key trade portfolio after a shake-up in Ursula von der Leyen’s top team. Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis has been chosen to replace Ireland’s Phil Hogan as EU trade commissioner, who resigned last month. Read more

    Pelosi warns ‘no chance’ of US-UK trade deal if Brexit violates international treaty

    CNN: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, has warned that Britain will be unable to secure a trade deal with the US if it does anything to undermine the treaty that brought peace to Northern Ireland after decades of violence. Read more

    Senator Rubio urges U.S. commitment to trade deal with Taiwan

    Focus Taiwan: Washington, Sept. 10 (CNA) United States Senator Marco Rubio on Thursday called on the U.S. State Department to send a high-ranking official to visit Taiwan as a demonstration of its commitment to negotiating a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). Read more

    New USMCA trade deal could increase demand for nearshoring in Mexico

    Freight Waves: Cross-border trade flows in North America will prosper as USMCA settles in, according to speaker at CBP symposium. Read more

    France calls on EU to adopt digital tax in 2021 if OECD talks fail

    City AM: France has called on the European Union to implement a digital tax by the first quarter of 2021 if an agreement cannot be reached within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) framework. Read more

    China-US trade slightly declines amid tensions

    Anadolu: China’s bilateral trade with the US has declined slightly in the last eight months, while expanding with the EU and Japan, state-run media reported Monday. Read more

    Mukhisa says planned Kenya-US trade deal unfavourable

    The Star: In an exclusive interview with the Star, the UNCTAD head, said the US market is already open for Kenyan products under the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) that expires in 2025. Read more

    ‘AfCFTA will resolve trade conflicts on the continent’ – Ghana’s Amb. to China

    Ghanaweb: Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Edward Boateng believes that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will present numerous opportunities to the continent and resolve petty trade disagreements amongst countries. Read more

    Africa Should Use AfCFTA As Template for Trade Negotiations – Osinbajo

    AllAfrica: As African countries brace up for the effective implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, one of the many ways by which the continent can maximize its benefits is to ensure that trade negotiations with the rest of the world be based on the free trade agreement rather than deals separately endorsed by regional economic blocs, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Read more

    Is Covid-19 fueling the ecommerce surge in Singapore?

    iPrice: While Covid-19 has caused major disruptions in Singapore, many ecommerce players in the country stand to benefit.The sector received a surge in transactions for both essential and discretionary items in the past few months as the pandemic forced most people to stay at home, according to a study conducted by iPrice Group. Read more

    Egypt-Brazil sales up 74% with Mercosur agreement

    Brazil-Arab News Agency: The Egypt-Mercosur free trade agreement had its third anniversary on September 1st. Since it became effective, exports from Brazil to Egypt climbed 21.1%, according to the National Confederation of Industries (CNI). Read more

    Mercosur accord contradicts EU Green Deal and fails to protect communities, study says

    The Irish Times: The upcoming trade agreement between the EU and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – the Mercosur bloc – “fails across sustainability criteria and stands in direct contradiction to the goals of the European Green Deal”, according to an international group of researchers. Read more

    Ratification of EU’s Mercosur trade deal runs into more problems

    Irish Examiner: EU plans to push ahead with ratification of the Mercosur trade deal have been derailed.October was the target for the trade deal text agreed by the European Commission and Mercosur to be sent for approval by the EU Council, the European Parliament, and by EU national parliaments. Read more

    Argentina/Brazil Bilateral Trade in First Eight Months Declines 20.5 Percent Year-on-Year

    Rio Times: South America’s second largest economy was Brazil’s fourth trade partner behind China (including Hong Kong and Macau), the European Union and the United States. Read more

    Mauricio J. Claver-Carone Elected IDB President

    Barbados Today: Mauricio J. Claver-Carone was elected President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) today during an electronic meeting of the Bank’s Board of Governors. 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:

  • OECS States on WTO’s provisional list of trade policy reviews for 2021

    OECS States on WTO’s provisional list of trade policy reviews for 2021

    Alicia Nicholls

    The World Trade Organization Members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS-WTO Members) are among the WTO Members currently on the global trade watchdog’s provisional list to undergo trade policy reviews in 2021. The OECS-WTO Members are the independent States of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

    The Trade Policy Review mechanism is a key aspect of the WTO’s monitoring function. All WTO members are subject to this exercise which reviews each Member’s trade and trade-related policies at defined intervals according to its share of world trade. The four members with the largest shares of world trade (which are at present the European Union, the United States, China and Japan) are reviewed every three years. The next sixteen largest Members are reviewed every five years. The remaining Members, including the OECS-WTO Members, are reviewed every seven years respectively. The OECS Member States were last reviewed in 2014, which means they are due for their next review in 2021. A report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Members’ Government(s) serve as the basis for review.

    The TPR agenda for 2020 had to be significantly revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a WTO news item, more than twenty WTO Members, some of whose trade policy reviews were postponed this year, are on the provisional TPR list for 2021. In addition to the OECS-WTO Members, the list also includes Argentina, Bahrain, China, India, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tonga, the United States, and Viet Nam, as well as the joint reviews of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) —Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic and Chad. According to the WTO news item, the final list will be determined by the Trade Policy Review Body within a couple of weeks.

    A communication released this week showed that several Members’ TPRs scheduled for 2020 have been postponed, and further confirmed that for the remainder of 2020, the following four Members will be reviewed: Zimbabwe (30 September and 2 October), Thailand (24 and 26 November), Indonesia (9 and 11 December) and Macao, China (15 and 17 December).

    To read the WTO news item, please see here:

    Alicia Nicholls, B.Sc., M.Sc., LL.B is an international trade and development specialist. Read more of her commentaries here or follow her on Twitter @licylaw. All views expressed herein are her personal views and do not necessarily reflect the views of any institution or entity with which she may from time to time be affiliated.