Belizean Dr. Carla Barnett has been unanimously selected by CARICOM Heads of Government to be the next Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). She will make history by becoming both the first Belizean and first woman to be appointed to this position. The Caribbean Trade Law & Development Blog congratulates Dr. Barnett and wishes her every success during her tenure.
Read the statement from the Heads of Government here.
Total trade volumes between African and Caribbean countries remain small, but the potential and opportunities for enhancing trade, investment and economic cooperation between these two regions are encouraging based on shared historical and cultural ties. To this end, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has announced steps to formalize relations with the African Union (AU).Several CARICOM countries have also sought to deepen bilateral ties with individual African countries. Africa-Caribbean Economic Relations and cooperation are even more critical now as countries on both sides of the Atlantic aim to kickstart economic recovery following the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 shock. Indeed, vaccine cooperation became another form of Africa-Caribbean cooperation when the AU offered CARICOM access to some of the approved vaccines from a shipment it was receiving.
Given the limited but promising trade and investment relationship between both regions, there is a dearth of scholarly analysis on the Africa-Caribbean economic relationship. This Symposium aims to address this gap in international economic relations scholarship through considered analytical pieces exploring aspects of this understudied relationship.
We invite authors to submit contributions which critically analyze and examine this relationship from a variety of perspectives, including but not limited to:
Submission Guidelines:
Essays that are submitted as part of this symposium must be analytical and original. Authors must comply with the Afronomicslaw.org blog submission guidelines accessible here. Blogs are to be submitted to afronomicslaw@gmail.com with the title ‘African-Caribbean Relations Blog Submission’.
Deadline for Submission of Essays:
May 14, 2021.
Inquiries or clarifications relating to this call should be directed to Ohio Omiunu (ohio.omiunu@dmu.ac.uk) and Alicia Nicholls (alicia.nicholls@cavehill.uwi.edu)
Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest for the week of May 2-8, 2021! 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
The Biden Administration has thrown its support behind a proposal by India and South Africa for a waiver from the TRIPS Agreement. See the full statement by the USTR here.
According to the findings of a study by the London School of Economics (LSE) Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), UK companies are reporting that Brexit has affected their operations, “leading to a fall in exports to the EU for a quarter of exporters and a fall in imports from the EU for a third of importers”. Access the full report here.
China-Australia trade and diplomatic relations which have been rocky for some time now have taken another turn for the worst as China ‘indefinitely’ suspends China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue. Read more
UNCTAD has unveiled a new portal which tracks COVID-19’s impact on trade and development. Read more here
Several Caribbean countries are among those whose wild-caught shrimp remain eligible for entry into the US. This is according to a US Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs’ Annual Certification of Shrimp-Harvesting Nations released at the end of April. See the countries in the Federal Register here.
The Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held virtually on the 6-7 May 2021, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize. Read more
Afronomicslaw Symposium: Prospects for Deepening Africa-Caribbean Economic Relations – Call for Blogs (Deadline: May 14)
Given the limited but promising trade and investment relationship between both regions, there is a dearth of scholarly analysis on the Africa-Caribbean economic relationship. This Symposium aims to address this gap in international economic relations scholarship through considered analytical pieces exploring aspects of this understudied relationship. We invite authors to submit blog contributions which critically analyze and examine this relationship from a variety of perspectives. Read the full Call for Blogs here.
REGIONAL NEWS
The Bahamas, US sign airspace agreement
Nation News: The Bahamas government has signed an air navigation services agreement with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing for the monitoring of the country’s airspace for ten years. Read more
St Vincent and the Grenadines cocoa industry hard hit after eruption
Barbados Advocate: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) cocoa industry has been hit hard due to the devastation caused by La Soufrière eruption. Read more
Barbados Port Inc. looking towards future
Barbados Advocate: This was revealed during the 60th anniversary celebration and time capsule ceremony at Cube Blue, Harbour Road, St. Michael on Tuesday. Read more
Belize’s balance of trade narrows in first quarter: imports down, exports up
BBN: Belize imported nearly $39 million less in goods in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020, and exported about $17 million more, narrowing the uneven balance of trade which has long tilted toward imports. Read more
China becomes top market for Cuba cigars
Reuters: Cuba’s state cigar monopoly, Habanos S.A., said on Tuesday that China had displaced Spain last year as its top market but rising demand in the Asian giant could not compensate for declines in sales elsewhere, with global revenue down 4% to $507 million. Read more
The Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism in Cuba
Havana Times: Tourism has been one of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic. In 2020, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) estimated that the effects of COVID-19 on global tourism would be greater than those sparked by the 2008 financial crisis: between 100-120 million jobs at stake; billion-dollar losses in tourism exports; and a 1.5% – 2.8% drop of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to a United Nations (UN) report. Read more
US-Cuba Relations, a Matter of Domestic Policy
Havana Times: For decades, the Cuban and US governments have found minimal relations between the two countries in both of their interests. In 2014, Raul Castro and Barack Obama proposed to reverse this age-old strategy that has been upheld by “idealogues” from both governments, with the same determination; who support a very similar political outlook, even if they do opt for different expressions of State. Read more
Jamaica Attracts Diverse Jobs in the Outsourcing Sector
Business Wire: Global outsourcing powerhouse, ibex, is increasing the diversity of jobs within Jamaica’s global digital services industry through an expansion of its current workforce of two thousand employees. The company provides customer support in sectors that include retail, finance, healthcare, and telecommunications, and it now offers a broad spectrum of business services from its Jamaican service centres. Read more
Jamaica Promotions Corporation will increase mango shipments to US
Fresh Plaza: The Jamaica Promotions Corporation has stated that two Jamaican companies have partnered with international buyer Seasons Farm Fresh to export more mangoes to the US. JAMPRO President Diane Edwards said that there is high demand for Jamaican fresh produce and that JAMPRO is focused on meeting this demand. Read more
Jamaica’s PM Holness says BPO industry can grow under COVID-19
Loop Jamaica: Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government will be doing everything in its power to protect and sustain the business process and outsourcing (BPO) industry under the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Read more
Tourism Incubator To Be Established
JIS: A tourism incubator is to be established to nurture new and start-up enterprises within the sector. This was disclosed by the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, held at the agency’s head office in Kingston. Read more
Jamaica Gov’t eyes major expansion of special economic zones
Jamaica Observer: The Government is holding talks with a number of prospective investors on projects that are expected to establish 400 acres of additional special economic zone (SEZ) space across the island, estimated at a value of more than US$1.3 billion. Read more
ACS Secretary-General Pays Courtesy Call to CARICOM Secretary-General
Washington Informer: CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque on Friday received a courtesy call from Rodolfo Sabonge, new secretary-general of the Association of Caribbean of States (ACS). Read more
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
WTO chief seeks text to advance debate over COVID-19 vaccine
AP: The World Trade Organization chief appealed to member countries on Wednesday to quickly present and negotiate over a text that could temporarily ease trade rules that protect COVID-19 vaccine technology, as a way to ramp access to doses at a time of urgent need. Read more
Negotiations in the Framework of the WTO are a New Model of Governance for Foreign Direct Investment: Alicia Bárcena
ECLAC: ECLAC’s Executive Secretary was one of the main speakers at a high-level roundtable on a WTO Investment Facilitation Framework for Development for Latin American economies. Read more
China ‘indefinitely’ suspends key economic dialogue with Australia
BBC: China has “indefinitely” suspended key economic dialogue with Australia, the latest in a growing diplomatic rift between both countries. Relations have been on the decline since Australia called for a probe into the origins of the virus and banned Huawei from building its 5G network. Read more
Commonwealth conference postponed again
Nation News: The London-based Commonwealth Secretariat Friday said that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM-2021) that was due to take place in Rwanda on June 21, has been further postponed. Read more
NZ-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations to be ‘accelerated’, as Australia streaks ahead
Stuff: New Zealand will “intensify” free trade talks with the United Kingdom, as negotiations over market access for New Zealand’s agricultural products inch forward and Australia streaks ahead with its deal. Read more
Australia rejigs export grants scheme
Global Trade Review: The Australian government has announced an overhaul of a grants scheme for exporters after a review found it should be streamlined. Read more
EU trade chief says efforts to ratify China deal ‘suspended’
Politico: The European Commission has temporarily put on hold efforts to ratify the investment agreement with China, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told Agence France-Presse Tuesday. Read more
Spain urges European Commission to unblock Mercosur agreement
Euractiv: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged the European Commission to do everything in its power to move forward and unfreeze progress on the Mercosur pact to send a “political signal” to China about the EU’s economic commitment to Latin America, El País has revealed. Read more
EU turns from China to India on free trade
EU Observer: The EU is suspending plans for a trade deal with China, while reviving those for a pact with India, in a dispute on Chinese human-rights abuses. Read more
After 8 years, India and European Union to resume free trade pact talks
Indian Express: Official sources in the EU also said the free trade agreement package will include an investment protection pact as well as a framework on geographical indication. Read more
EU split on vaccine waiver idea, unlikely to take clear stance
Reuters: European Union leaders are divided over whether to follow Washington in supporting a waiver of patent rights to COVID-19 vaccines, as many argue this would take years and not address the immediate issue of making more shots to end the pandemic. Read more
EU negotiator Barnier spills Brexit secrets in new book
BBC: From the moment Michel Barnier was made the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator in July 2016 he was at the heart of talks to reach a deal with the UK government. But what can we learn from his 500 pages of memoirs about the turbulent talks and what he thought of his UK counterparts? Read more
Top U.S. oil lobby slams Mexico energy policies as undermining USMCA, discriminatory
Reuters: The top American oil lobby is urging the U.S. government to raise concerns about Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s energy policies, which it said are undermining investor confidence and violate Mexico’s trade commitments. Read more
Carbon emissions drop across Europe in 2020 – Eurostat
Reuters: Carbon emissions from use of fossil fuels fell across the European Union last year, the bloc’s statistics office estimated on Friday, citing COVID-19 restrictions that shut down travel and factories across the region. Read more
China open to trade deal either with Uruguay or with all of Mercosur, says Ambassador
Mercopress: China’s Ambassador in Montevideo Wang Gang Wednesday underlined his country’s “open attitude” towards a trade agreement “either bilateral or en bloc” with Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay) “when Uruguay or the bloc as a whole are ready.” Read more
STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO
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(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held virtually on the 6-7 May 2021, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize.
The COFCOR was attended by Honourable E. P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade of Antigua and Barbuda; Senator Dr. the Honourable Jerome Walcott, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados; Honourable Dr. Kenneth Darroux, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations of the Commonwealth of Dominica; Honourable Oliver Joseph, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and CARICOM Affairs of Grenada; Honourable Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana; His Excellency Dr. Claude Joseph, Prime Minister a.i. and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Haiti; Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson-Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica; Honourable Mark A.G. Brantley, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis; His Excellency Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname; and Senator the Honourable Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
His Excellency Reuben Rahming, Ambassador to The Bahamas to CARICOM, represented The Bahamas; Her Excellency Elma Gene Isaac, Ambassador to CARICOM to Saint Lucia, represented Saint Lucia; and His Excellency Allan Alexander, Ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to CARICOM represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
OPENING CEREMONY
Remarks were delivered by Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, His Excellency Dr. Claude Joseph, Prime Minister a.i and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Haiti, outgoing Chair of the COFCOR, and the Honourable Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration of Belize, the Chair of the COFCOR.
(The statements are available at www.caricom.org)
COORDINATION OF FOREIGN POLICY
CARICOM Foreign Minister re-emphasised the importance for the Region to speak with one voice through the coordination of foreign policy, and the need to find new and more effective ways to strengthen the existing coordination mechanisms while recognising the sovereign right of Member States. It was noted that there continues to be successful coordination but the increasing complexity of international issues requires that it be enhanced. In that regard, the COFCOR agreed to increase the frequency of its meetings. This would enable Ministers to address in a timely fashion new developments and challenges facing the Community and to shape Community responses and policies.
CANDIDATURES
The COFCOR reiterated the importance of CARICOM’s effective participation in international fora, including through the pursuit of increased CARICOM representation in relevant organisations. In this regard, Foreign Ministers considered and endorsed a number of CARICOM candidatures to the United Nations (UN), the Organisation of American States (OAS) and other international and regional organisations. They also deliberated on the requests from Third Countries for CARICOM’s endorsement of their candidates to multilateral bodies.
BILATERAL RELATIONS
The COFCOR noted the progress made in the strengthening of relations with a number of Third States and groups of states since its last Meeting. In so doing, it reaffirmed the importance of CARICOM’s relations with its traditional partners and the need to continue to expand the Community’s outreach to other regions and so develop its relations with non-traditional partners and groupings.
The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing its public health and economic effects, in particular the need for equitable access to vaccines and to economic recovery financing, were among the Community’s priority concerns discussed and for which assistance was sought.
Ministers discussed relations the African Union. They reaffirmed their readiness for a CARICOM-AU Summit as soon as practicable.
The COFCOR expressed its continued concern that the US embargo against Cuba has a significant adverse impact on the socio-economic development of Cuba and the well-being of the Cuban People. Foreign Ministers reiterated CARICOM’s support for the termination of the long-standing US economic, financial and commercial embargo against Cuba and agreed to continue to advocate in this regard.
MULTILATERAL AND HEMISPHERIC RELATIONS
United Nations (UN)
The COFCOR noted the developments regarding pursuit of the Financing for Development (FfD) agenda and the challenges associated with expanding public health expenditures while applying fiscal containment measures in line with the economic downturn arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic. Foreign Ministers commended the Honourable Prime Minister of Jamaica who joined with the Prime Minister of Canada and the UN Secretary-General to launch an initiative that has resulted in a menu of over 250 policy options to address Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and beyond.
The COFCOR agreed on the need for global solutions to the various challenges facing Small Island and Low-Lying Coastal Developing States, particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COFCOR also agreed that the Community should continue to prioritise the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway in a robust manner, including the launch of a strong COVID-19 economic recovery related appeal to the international community and,, in particular the G20, asking for the expansion and extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). The COFCOR encouraged the consideration of innovative debt relief measures such as debt swaps, debt buybacks, and State Contingent Debt Instruments to ease the economic fallout of the pandemic.
They also agreed to continue to advocate against –
The COFCOR welcomed the convening of a Food Systems Summit as part of the Decade of Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) being hosted by the UN Secretary-General in October 2021 and encouraged the highest level of participation from Member States.
The COFCOR agreed to continue to advance a common regional position, at the fourth and final Inter-Governmental Conference for the development of an Internationally Legally Binding Instrument on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond Areas of National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) scheduled for 16-27 August 2021.
Organisation of American States (OAS)
The COFCOR received an update on the issues of strategic importance to the Caribbean Community before the Organisation of American States (OAS). Foreign Ministers welcomed the CARICOM Framework Strategy entitled Vulnerability to Resilience put in place by the OAS Secretary-General with the assistance of the CARICOM Caucus. Ministers expressed concern over the limited resources allocated to areas identified as priority to CARICOM and agreed that every effort should be made to ensure that adequate resources are allotted to these areas. Foreign Ministers agreed to raise this matter at the Fifty-First OAS General Assembly, scheduled to be hosted this year by Guatemala. They also reiterated their commitment to the work of the hemispheric body. The COFCOR commended the work of the CARICOM Caucus in Washington D.C.
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
The COFCOR reviewed a synopsis of the 2021 Work Programme of the CELAC PPT Mexico and commended the PPT Mexico and CELAC for advancing priorities related to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and economic fronts.
Association of Caribbean States (ACS)
The Council welcomed the assumption to office of His Excellency Rodolfo Sabonge as the new Secretary-General of the ACS and agreed that CARICOM Member States should continue to act strategically within the Association.
Foreign Ministers commended the coordination efforts in the Greater Caribbean in response to the pandemic.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The COFCOR agreed that COP26 should be the COP of Ambitious Action and that it must result in greater speed in scaling up climate finance flows to SIDS via the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) finance mechanisms, the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. Foreign Ministers also reiterated their support to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
In preparation for COP26, the COFCOR emphasised the need for Member States to engage in wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders at the national and regional levels.
BORDER ISSUES
Belize-Guatemala Dispute
The COFCOR received an update on developments between Belize and Guatemala, including in respect of the case, arising from Guatemala’s territorial, insular and maritime claim, that is now before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for final and definitive resolution, in accordance with the Special Agreement to Submit Guatemala’s Claim to the ICJ.
The COFCOR urged Belize, Guatemala and the OAS to respect and implement fully the Confidence Building Measures as agreed under their Framework Agreement of 2005, pending a resolution of the case before the ICJ. They further urged both countries and the OAS to reinvigorate their efforts to engage in the design and development of a mechanism of cooperation for the Sarstoon River, which remains outstanding.
The COFCOR recognises and supports the OAS’ crucial role in the process aimed at resolving the dispute, arising from Guatemala’s claims on Belize, and called on the international community to continue supporting the OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone.
The COFCOR reaffirmed its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Belize.
Guyana-Venezuela Controversy
Foreign Ministers received an update on the most recent developments in the controversy between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. They noted that Guyana had begun to prepare its Memorial for submission on 8 March 2022 in accordance with the schedule set by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hear the case on the merits of Guyana’s application concerning the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899 and the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary between the two countries.
Foreign Ministers reiterated the expression by CARICOM Heads of Government of the Community’s full support for the ongoing judicial process that is intended to bring a peaceful and definitive end to the long-standing controversy between the two countries and urged Venezuela to participate in the process.
Foreign Ministers remained very concerned about the threatening posture of Venezuela and reaffirmed their consistent support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.
ADVANCNG REGIONAL PRIORITIES: CARICOM AGRI-FOOD AGENDA
The COFCOR affirmed the strategy adopted at the Thirty-Second Inter-sessional Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government (February 2021) for the advancement of the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda with priority attention to regional food and nutrition security. Ministers agreed to include the Agenda among the priority issues for engagement with relevant partners and in international fora, including the UN Food Systems Summit and the Summit of the Americas.
UNCTAD XV
The COFCOR received a report from Barbados on preparations for UNCTAD XV and noted that the Conference, which was scheduled to be held in Barbados in 2020, will now be held virtually on 3 October 2021.
Foreign Ministers commended Barbados for its continuing efforts to convene this important Conference and affirmed their commitment to work collectively with Barbados in ensuring that CARICOM SIDS specific issues are reflected in the outcome of UNCTAD XV.
Caribbean Trade Law and Development 