Category: trade news

Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest for the week of August 30-September 4, 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.

We continue to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti who were affected by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on August 14, and then by Tropical Storm Grace just days later. Even though the international media has largely moved on from the ‘story’, our Haitian brothers and sisters still need your help. Please assist by reaching out to reputable charities/aid agencies if you are so able. We also express our concern for those readers who were negatively impacted by Tropical Storm Grace and Hurricane Ida. Please stay safe all.

THE WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

On September 2, a WTO panel ruled against China in its challenge against the US’ safeguards on imported photovoltaic cells from that country. Read more here.

The WTO has revealed in a recent report that global exports of intermediate goods (IG) grew by 20% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2021. Read more here.

WTO members are gearing up to resume fisheries subsidies negotiations after the August break. This will be under an intensified programme of meetings beginning on 1 September. Read more here.

The EU and pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca has reached an out of court settlement in their very public COVID-19 vaccine supply dispute. Read this report from France24 here.

According to Euractiv, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on September 2 that ‘zero tariff’ options offered by telecommunication service providers Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom in Germany were in breach of the EU’s laws on Open Internet and Roaming”. Read the full article on Euractiv here.

Coming up this week on Tuesday, September 7, will be the first ever CARICOM-Africa Summit! It will be hosted by the Government of Kenya and chaired by Kenyan President, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta under the theme “Unity Across Continents and Oceans: Opportunities for Deepening Integration”. Read more here.

Starting Monday! Afronomics Law Blog Symposium on Africa-Caribbean Economic Relations

I am truly pleased to have co-convened this Afronomicslaw. org Blog Symposium with the brilliant Dr Ohiocheoya Omiunu (PhD) on “Prospects for Deepening Africa-Caribbean Economic Relations“! The insightful contributions to this symposium will be released daily (from Monday) and can be read on the Afronomics Law Blog. I also wish to extend my deepest appreciation to the expert contributors – academics and practitioners – for taking time out of their busy schedules to share their invaluable contributions, without which this Symposium would not be possible!

REGIONAL NEWS

Regional countries import billions in food, seafood and fish products

Jamaica Observer: The Trinidad-based Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) says most Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries are net importers of food and food products, importing a combined five billion US dollars of these products in 2018. Read more

Task Force Established To Address Impact Of OECD’s New Two-Pillar Plan in Barbados

GIS: Minister of International Business and Industry, Ronald Toppin, has expressed concern about the two-pillar package on taxation in the digital economy being implemented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Read more

Barbados’ first High Commissioner to Kenya accredited

Barbados Today: William Alexander McDonald has been accredited as Barbados’ High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya. Read more

CARICOM SG accredits new UK ambassador to CARICOM

CARICOM: Climate Change and Covid-19 were the main issues discussed as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Her Excellency Carla Barnett accepted the credentials of the new Ambassador of the United Kingdom to CARICOM Her Excellency Jane Miller. Read more

Vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are going to different sets of Caribbean islands

CNBC: The British Virgin Islands are part of a rising number of Caribbean destinations that attract vaccinated travelers — while proving less attractive to unvaccinated people. Read more

New trade gateway for T&T’s service providers

Trinidad Express: The Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) virtually launched its Gateway to Trade (G2T) Programme yesterday. Read more

The Caribbean’s Largest Fresh Berry Farm Is Coming To Tobago

Forbes: Trinidad & Tobago will soon be home to the Caribbean’s largest source of locally-grown fresh organic berries. A 12-acre climate-smart hydroponic greenhouse farm located on Cove Estate in Tobago will specialize in fresh organic berries and greens for local consumption, providing a unique opportunity for the commercial production of ‘cold weather’ crops in a Category 5 hurricane resistant tropical setting, with major implications for food security, climate resilience and import substitution. Read more

TTMA commends Government on its Illicit Trade Fight

TT Guardian: President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association Tricia Coosal believes that the Government is headed in the right direction thus far in its fight against illicit trade. Read more

Cuba authorizes and seeks to regulate cryptocurrency use

Reuters: Cuba said this week it would authorize and regulate the use of cryptocurrency, a move that could help the Communist-run country skirt U.S. sanctions that have complicated transactions through the international banking system. Read more

Major US companies interested in building 5000 rooms for world-class hotels in Guyana

Guyana Times: Several major United States hotel chains have heeded the call by the Guyana Government and expressed interest in constructing close to 5000 hotel rooms in order to boost local accommodation capacity. Read more

Special Economic Zones and Global Economic Governance: Jamaica’s Economic Independence

Commercial International Law: Policy options and actions, especially economic ones, of a nation do not happen in isolation. Rather they are the result of a complex dance moving to and fro between the natural desire to improve ones lot and the constraints placed on what actions can be taken based on the rules of the game. Read more

Demand for Jamaican agricultural products increasing despite COVID pandemic

Jamaica Star: Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green, says external demand for Jamaican agricultural produce and value-added items continues to increase, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Read more

Uptick In External Demand For Jamaican Agricultural Produce

JIS: External demand for Jamaican agricultural produce and value-added items continues to increase, despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Read more

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WTO chief seeks fishing, pandemic accords by year end

Reuters: The World Trade Organization needs results by the end of the year and must focus its efforts on securing a deal on fishing subsidies and finding a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, its director-general said on Thursday. Read more

How cooperation on trade can help tackle plastic pollution

UNCTAD: With about 75% of all the plastic ever produced becoming waste, countries are exploring how to use trade and development policies and negotiations in the fight against plastic pollution. Read more

Divergent climate change policies among countries could spark a trade war. The WTO should step in.

Peterson Institute: Two months before the next big United Nations climate conference in November, the three biggest greenhouse gas emitters—the United States, Europe, and China—are at loggerheads over how to reduce reliance on fossil fuels without excessively disadvantaging their own economies. Read more

Putting sustainability at the heart of the EU’s trade agenda

Euractiv: The question of how to put sustainability at the heart of the EU’s trade policy, and retain public public support for it, has become a vital issue for EU policymakers. So, too, is getting the EU and wider international community to respect their commitments on social, labour and environmental standards. Read more

What’s going on between African nations and the EU?

Devex: Ursula von der Leyen’s first trip abroad after being installed as president of the European Commission in December 2019 was to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital and headquarters of the African Union. Read more

First meeting for UK’s CPTPP inclusion to be held in a month, Japan minister says

Reuters: Member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreed to hold within a month a first meeting with Britain to discuss its inclusion in the trade deal, Japan’s economy minister said on Wednesday. Read more

UK-New Zealand trade deal close but will only have a ‘minuscule’ impact in British shops, experts say

iNews: Trade Secretary Liz Truss is holding out for better terms on financial services, digital trade and the mobility of people. Read more

Liz Truss appoints New Trade Commissioners to boost UK trade

Gov.uk: International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, has named two new HM Trade Commissioners (HMTCs). Read more

Post-Brexit trade: What is the story with the North and Britain?

Irish Times: Ulster University researcher Esmond Birnie reckons NI protocol has cost North £850m. Read more

UK Brexit minister warns of ‘cold mistrust’ era with EU

Independent: Britain’s Brexit minister has warned of a long-term chill in relations between the U.K. and the European Union if previously agreed trading arrangements governing Northern Ireland are not resolved. Read more

UK Cabinet split over visas in New Zealand trade deal

Politico.EU: Split between Department for International Trade and Home Office comes as UK and New Zealand race past deadline for agreement in principle. Read more

EU trade chief voices optimism on resolving U.S. steel tariff dispute

Hellenic Shipping News: The European Union’s trade chief said on Friday he had become more optimistic that the bloc could resolve its dispute with the United States over U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum. Read more

EU’s planned carbon border tax to impact Russia the most -study

Reuters: The world’s first carbon border tax proposed by the European Union is likely to hit Russia the hardest but leave Chinese trade relatively unscathed, according to a joint study by two European climate think tanks. Read more

COVID-19 created lots of supply chain problems — and they’re nowhere close to being solved

CBC.ca: When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the immediate health crisis was just the first of a long line of problems that tech company Voltera had to overcome. Read more

Macron says France ‘will continue’ to oppose EU-Mercosur trade deal

Buenos Aires Times: French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Paris maintains its opposition to the trade agreement agreed between the European Union and Mercosur. Read more

S. Korea kicks off 7th round of free trade talks with Mercosur

The Korea Herald: South Korea said Monday it has launched a new round of negotiations to clinch a free trade agreement with Mercosur, South America’s leading trading bloc, as it aims to further expand its export portfolio. Read more

Egypt’s exports to Mercosur countries rise by 115% in 4 years

Egypt Today: Egyptian exports to the Mercosur countries have jumped by 115 percent since the agreement entered into force in 2017, according to the Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry for Economic Affairs, and the supervisor of the foreign trade sector and trade agreements, Ibrahim El-Sigini. Read more

Brazil Urges for Acceleration of Morocco-Mercosur Negotiations on Free Trade

Morocco World News: Mercosur aims to strengthen its trade relations with Arab countries with the goal of establishing a South American-Arab business and investment bloc. Read more

Argentina, Cuba ratify willingness to strengthen bilateral ties

Mercopress: Argentina’s International Economic Relations Secretary Jorge Neme held a meeting Monday in Havana with Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, during which both countries ratified their intention to strengthen bilateral ties. Read more

Canada’s trade surplus narrows to $778M in July as imports outpaced exports

CBC.ca: Statistics Canada says the country’s merchandise trade surplus fell to $778 million in July as imports rose more than exports for the month. Read more

Kenya lobbies for Commonwealth top job

The East African: Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i Thursday lobbied for support from Zambia for Kenya’s bid for the Commonwealth top job when he met new President Hakainde Hichilema. Read more

Hong Kong gets central backing to join RCEP

China Daily: The Ministry of Commerce will support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement as a separate customs territory as soon as possible, in the latest effort to help the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong complement each other and achieve common growth, a senior government official said on Wednesday. Read more

S. Korean trade minister, WTO chief discuss restoring multilateralism amid pandemic

Korea Herald: South Korea’s newly appointed Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo on Wednesday exchanged ideas with World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on how to restore multilateralism in global trade amid intensifying protectionism triggered by the pandemic. Read more

India urges early TRIPS waiver ruling on COVID shots at WTO

The Hindu: India has pitched for an early outcome of the TRIPS waiver proposal for COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the government said in a release on Saturday. Read more

Iran determined to increase its oil exports despite U.S. sanctions -oil minister

Reuters: Iran is determined to increase its oil exports despite sanctions imposed by the United States on Tehran’s crude sales, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said on Wednesday, adding that the use of oil sanctions as a “political tool” would harm the market. Read more

Thailand eyes signing free trade zone agreement with EAEU, says Prime Minister

TASS: Prayut Chan-o-cha pointed to the prospects of the Far East as a link between Russia and the Asia-Pacific region. Read more

STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

• Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on dry pastries and breakfast cereals
• Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on plastic pipes and tubes and accessories
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on polyethylene terephthalate resin
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on terephthalic acid
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on "other paper and paperboard"

NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

• CARICOM Releases Statement on Military Build-Up in Caribbean Sea
• Is CARICOM Complicit in the United States and Trinidad’s Unlawful Partnership?
• Trinidad’s Troubling Invitation of War to Caribbean Shores
• From Extractivism to Impact: What I learnt in Zambia
• Boosting island economies’ trade through education

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:

Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest for the week of August 22-28, 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.

We continue to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti who were affected by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on August 14, and then by Tropical Storm Grace just days later. Even though the international media has largely moved on from the ‘story’, our Haitian brothers and sisters still need your help. Please assist by reaching out to reputable charities/aid agencies if you are so able. We also express our concern for those readers who were negatively impacted by Tropical Storm Grace and/or are in the path of Hurricane Ida. Please stay safe all.

HIGHLIGHTS

My Opinio Juris Piece: Will Foreign Direct Investment Help or Hinder SDG Achievement in the Caribbean?

This week I had the pleasure of contributing a piece to the Opinio Juris Blog symposium convened by Prof. Mohsen Al-Attar and Dr. Rafael Quintero Godinez on whether FDI is a blessing or grift. You can read mine and the other great pieces in the Symposium here.

REGIONAL NEWS

Belize develops plan to sustainably manage dozens of finfish species

UNCTAD: Belize’s government is collaborating with fisheries managers, scientists and fishers to develop a management plan for 47 of the nation’s most important finfish – bony fish – species. Read more

Belize to export more cattle to Mexico in September

Breaking Belize News: Cattle exports to Mexico will be continuing in September, this according to officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE). Read more

Antigua and Barbuda and Indonesia sign ‘Waiver of Short Stay Visa Requirements’ agreement

Antigua Newsroom: On Friday, 27th August, 2021, the Honourable E. P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade welcomed His Excellency Priyo Iswanto, Non-Resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Antigua and Barbuda on his final tour of duty as the nation’s accredited Ambassador. Read more

Application process for exporters goes online

Jamaica Gleaner: Starting today, exporters applying to the Trade Board for certificates of origin will be required to do so online. This is in keeping with the decision to transition from the existing manual process to an electronic service to obtain certificates. Read more

Jamaica Accedes To Revised Kyoto Convention

JIS: Jamaica acceded to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonisation of Customs Procedures, also known as the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) on Saturday (August 7), thus becoming the 128th contracting party. Read more

JMEA strong on partnerships to boost exports

Jamaica Observer: Executive director of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association Simara Howell has revealed that the lobby group will be developing its relationships with other local and regional organisations to better serve and boost the exports of its member companies. Read more

Guyana and Suriname combine to expand rice and poultry exports

Jamaica Observer: Guyana and Suriname have inked a new agreement under which they will seek to target new global markets by joint expansion of their poultry and rice sectors. The Caricom countries indicated they will be supporting each other in entering the North American, European and regional markets. Read more

Guyana-Suriname Private Sector Business Council to be set up

Stabroek: Guyana’s Private Sector Commission (PSC) and Suriname’s Trade and Industry Association (VSB) have announced a plan to set up a Guyana-Suriname Private Sector Business Council to strengthen economic ties and create a single market and economy between the two neighbouring countries. Read more

Local Content, Trade and Security among issues discussed by Guyana and Suriname Leaders at high-level meeting

Newsroom: The President said the meetings are not time-wasting meetings, but rather they are examining decisions to advance the commitments already made between the two countries. Read more

Suriname to begin issuing licences directly to Guyanese fishermen from January 2022

Newsroom: After years of complaints relating to the licencing of Guyanese fishermen who ply their trade in waters that belong to Suriname, Guyana and Suriname decided this week that licences will now be issued directly to Guyanese fisherman. Read more

Caricom SG underscores importance of young people to regional integration movement

Jamaica Observer: The Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, says she is committed to young people in the region playing a meaningful role in the development of the 15-member regional integration movement. Read more

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The U.S. is reviewing its trade policy with China, says USTR Katherine Tai

CNBC: U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Tuesday the “Biden-Harris Administration and USTR are conducting a comprehensive review of U.S.-China trade policy,” according to a readout of a virtual meeting with two business associations, the U.S. Chamber China Center Advisory Board and the U.S.-China Business Council. Read more

UK unveils post-Brexit global data plans to boost growth, increase trade and improve healthcare

Gov.uk: The UK is today launching a package of measures to help it seize the opportunities of data to boost growth, trade and improve its public services. Read more

UK aims to conclude Pacific trade group talks next year – FT

Reuters: Britain aims to conclude negotiations to join the trans-Pacific trade group by the end of 2022, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, citing International Trade Secretary Liz Truss. Read more

UK’s hopes of boosting hydrogen trade hobbled by Brexit

Euractiv: The UK hydrogen strategy, unveiled last week (17 August), has many similarities with the EU’s own blueprint presented one year before, analysts say. But trade and regulatory cooperation between the two sides is complicated by Brexit, with the UK likely to become a rule-taker at the end of the day. Read more

The EU’s position in world trade in figures

EU Reporter: Find key figures about the EU’s trade with the world in our infographic: exports, imports, number of related jobs in the EU and more, Economy. Read more

Russia, EU to start import substitution consultations on September 13 — source

TASS: The EU believes that the Russian import substitution policy, which was a response measures to unilateral sanctions slapped on Russia by the EU and the US, runs counter to the WTO policy by giving preferences to domestic produce. Read more

Turkey, US seek to boost bilateral trade

Hurriyet: The top Turkish and U.S. trade officials discussed areas of cooperation and efforts to further increase the bilateral trade volume, the Turkish Trade Ministry said in a statement on Aug. 27. Read more

Africa Can Become a Maritime Hub for Global Trade

AllAfrica: The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the world’s leading shipping organization, accounting for about 80 per cent of global merchant tonnage. An ICS study published in March this year titled Protectionism in Maritime Economies found that reducing restrictive trade policies could boost Africa’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery by billions of dollars. The interview was edited for brevity. Read more

U.S. Trade Rep. Hints “If Unaddressed” Rights Violations “Could Affect” Ethiopia’s Future Agoa Eligibility

Addis Ababa: United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai met virtually with Ethiopia’s Senior Policy Advisor and Chief Trade Negotiator Mamo Mihretu on August 25, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Global Public Affairs. Read more

Okonjo-Iweala asks developed nations to channel IMF’s SDR allocation to African countries

The Cable: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has asked developed countries to channel their shares of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) $650 billion special drawing rights (SDRs) to poor African nations. Read more

India, Australia eye mini trade deal by year end

Livemint: After a virtual meet between India’s trade minister Piyush Goyal and his Australian counterpart Dan Tehan on Thursday, both sides directed officials to speed up negotiations and to meet as often as required. Read more

Countries must remove digital services taxes, US tells Turkey

Daily Sabah: US Trade Representative Katherine Tai told Turkey’s trade minister it was critical that countries remove individual digital services taxes in connection with a broader multilateral agreement reached in talks led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), her office said. Read more

Costa Rica requests panel over export dispute

Tico Times: Costa Rica requested the creation of an arbitration panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on its dispute with Panama over the blockade of the export of agricultural products, the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Trade announced on Monday. Read more

MERCOSUR’s regionalisation pandemic

IPS: While the trade agreement with MERCOSUR is still being discussed in the EU. The future of the entire bloc is at stake. Read more

STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

• Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on dry pastries and breakfast cereals
• Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on plastic pipes and tubes and accessories
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on polyethylene terephthalate resin
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on terephthalic acid
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on "other paper and paperboard"

NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

• CARICOM Releases Statement on Military Build-Up in Caribbean Sea
• Is CARICOM Complicit in the United States and Trinidad’s Unlawful Partnership?
• Trinidad’s Troubling Invitation of War to Caribbean Shores
• From Extractivism to Impact: What I learnt in Zambia
• Boosting island economies’ trade through education

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:

Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest for the week of August 15-21, 2021! We are pleased to once again bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

We continue to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti who were affected by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake last week, as well as Tropical Storm Grace. The death toll at the time of this Digest’s publication was over 1900 innocent lives lost. Please donate if you can to reputable charities and organisations.

HIGHLIGHTS

According to the World Trade Organization’s latest Goods Trade Barometer, global merchandise trade is “continuing its robust recovery” from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and hit a record high in its latest reading issued on August 18. Read more here.

ECLAC’s latest Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean Report (2021) found that only five LAC countries received more foreign capital in 2020 than in 2019: Bahamas and Barbados in the Caribbean, Ecuador and Paraguay in South America, and Mexico. Access the full report here.

Dr. Carla Barnett, the first appointed female Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), took office this week following a virtual ceremony marking the occasion and in which she outlined her vision and priorities for her term. Read more here.

UNCTAD has issued an open call for photo submissions for UNCTAD15 which will be hosted virtually by Barbados October 3-7. See the call for submissions.

REGIONAL NEWS

‘Demerara Rum’ gets geographical indication recognition in EU

Stabroek: Demerara Distillers Limited has succeeded in having its Demerara Rum geographical indication (GI) recognised and protected in the European Union (EU), a move the company’s Chairman, Komal Samaroo has described as a “major development”. Read more

CARICOM Secretary-General donates books to University of Belize

Breaking Belize News: As she leaves Belize’s shores for Guyana to become Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Carla Barnett is leaving behind a gift – a donation of books from her personal collection to the University of Belize Library. Read more

July arrivals set new record for Barbados for 2021

Barbados Today: Barbados recorded over 10,000 air passenger arrivals after months of being hard-hit by a global pandemic. For the first time since December 2020, the local tourism industry has recorded a major tourism milestone with the latest statistics from the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) suggesting a positive turn for the industry ahead of the 2021/2022 winter season. Read more

T&T and Chile commence negotiations to expand trade

Trinidad Guardian: Trade and Industry Minister, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon has expressed anticipation that the Agreement will support Trinidad and Tobago’s trade policy and eliminate non-tariff barriers. The following is a press release from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Read more

TTMA meets Cuba ambassador to talk trade

Trinidad Guardian: President of the T&T Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) Tricia Coosal has met with Cuban Ambassador Tania Diego Olite to discuss trade and other related matters. Read more

Belize doesn’t have enough coconuts, Ministry of Agriculture looking at ways to increase production

Breaking Belize News: If we walk around town, that is in any of the cities and towns, we see a lot of coconuts. Going by that, one would think that we have excess production. However, we don’t have enough says the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, Jose Abelardo Mai. Read more

Belize Cabinet news: Decisions on trade licenses, medical waste, and national census

Breaking Belize News: While COVID-19 dominated this week’s meeting of the National Executive as it has for so long, other decisions were made and announced. Read more

More Belize trade talks with Guatemala

Amandala: For two days last week, a delegation from the Guatemalan Republic held trade talks with the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Amalia Mai. Read more

JMEA wants more Caricom dollars

Jamaica Observer: The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) is looking to increase its receipts from Caricom as it believes there are still opportunities within the bloc for local companies to grow while also advancing the Jamaican economy. Read more

Communique issued after agreements between Guyana, Suriname

Newsroom: Joint communique issued on the official visit by Guyanese President to Suriname. Read here.

Latin America and Caribbean FDI in 2020 was the lowest since 2010, ECLAC annual report

Mercopress: Latin America and the Caribbean received US$105.48 billion in Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, in 2020 – 34.7% less than in 2019, 51% less than the record high achieved in 2012, and the lowest since 2010, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) indicated during the presentation of the annual “Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2021”. Read more

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UK becomes Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Gov.uk: The UK has agreed a new partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Read more

Exclusive: UK eyes quick ‘interim’ trade deal with India as negotiations set to start this year

City AM: The UK government is looking at wrapping up a quick “interim” trade deal with India, which could see tariffs slashed on products like Scotch whisky before a full agreement is in place. Read more

Why the EU Sides with Southeast Asia in the South China Sea Dispute

VoA: European Union members will step up their advocacy of open access to the disputed South China Sea, a key world trade route, despite Chinese claims to nearly all of it as they discuss the issue with Southeast Asian countries, analysts believe. Read more

Economic Commission for Africa Director seeks ways to boost AfCFTA’s implementation as MSMEs consultation opens

Africa News: The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and communication consultancy AUNIQUEI, with funding from the European Union (EU) today in Dakar opened a consultation with African micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Read more

AfCFTA will promote made in Africa Goods — Perm Secretary

The Guardian (Nigeria): Inauguration of the Technical Working Group of the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA) for Agriculture and Agribusiness work stream will promote made in Africa Goods and Services. Read more

Afreximbank restates commitment to AfCFTA implementation

The Guardian (Nigeria): The Regional Chief Operating Officer of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Eric Monchu Intong, has reiterated the bank’s commitment to the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area [AfCFTA] as it remains the guaranteed strategy for the continent to propel economic recovery. Read more

Swiss paper faulted for sexist headline about WTO chief

Expatica: A media regulator faulted a Swiss newspaper on Tuesday for sexism over a headline earlier this year describing the World Trade Organization’s highly qualified new chief merely as a “grandmother”. Read more

Toyota production cut highlights ASEAN supply chain vulnerability

Nikkei Asia: Toyota Motor’s announcement that it will slash production next month has sparked concerns over vulnerabilities in Southeast Asia’s auto supply chain as the region grapples with new variants of the coronavirus. Read more

Cheaper wine in the offing as Government close in on New Zealand trade deal

Evening Standard: The Department for International Trade said imported wine, apples and honey could all see their prices slashed in a post-Brexit agreement. Read more

GM workers in Mexico reject union in win for US free trade pact

Al Jazeera: Workers at a General Motors Co. truck plant in Mexico voted to cancel their union contract after the U.S. initiated a dispute against conditions at the factory, a historic victory for the North American free trade agreement. Read more

STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

• Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on dry pastries and breakfast cereals
• Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on plastic pipes and tubes and accessories
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on polyethylene terephthalate resin
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on terephthalic acid
• Türkiye launches safeguard investigation on "other paper and paperboard"

NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

• CARICOM Releases Statement on Military Build-Up in Caribbean Sea
• Is CARICOM Complicit in the United States and Trinidad’s Unlawful Partnership?
• Trinidad’s Troubling Invitation of War to Caribbean Shores
• From Extractivism to Impact: What I learnt in Zambia
• Boosting island economies’ trade through education

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: