Caribbean Trade Law and Development

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  • Historic first CARICOM-Africa Summit – LIVE STREAM

    Historic first CARICOM-Africa Summit – LIVE STREAM

    Alicia Nicholls

    Days after the first ever United Nations (UN) International Day for People of African Descent was celebrated, there will be the first ever Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-Africa Summit! The summit, which was originally carded for July 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rescheduled summit, which will now be held on September 7, 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”. The event will be livestreamed on CARICOM’s Youtube and Facebook pages. You can watch it below:

    CARICOM Today notes that participants will include “Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community and the African Union, Chairs of CARICOM and the African Union Commission, and the Africa Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Secretaries-General of CARICOM and the Organisation of the African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the President of Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)”.

    The summit is the latest initiative in a push on both sides of the Atlantic for closer Africa-CARICOM ties which transcend traditional historic and cultural ties towards real commercial ties and deeper economic and cultural cooperation. As I noted in a previous piece back in 2019 entitled “Africa-Caribbean Trade: What are the prospects?“, current Africa-Caribbean trade remains small, but the prospects for expanded Africa-Caribbean trade are promising given four main factors: (1) Caribbean countries’ push for export partner diversification, (2) Africa is on the rise, (3) increased Caribbean-African awareness such as the Timaya-Machel collaboration, (4) the signing of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). I had further argued in that piece that “since it is firms which trade and not countries, building linkages between chambers of commerce and investment promotion agencies in the Caribbean and African countries would also be key”.

    On another note, starting Monday, 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. Deepest appreciation to our expert contributors for their invaluable contributions!

    The CTLD Blog wishes the organisers a successful CARICOM-Africa summit. I sincerely hope that the results go more beyond simply a lengthy communique of hortatory goals, but there will be a concrete action plan on deepening CARICOM-African ties.

    Alicia Nicholls, B.Sc., M.Sc., LL.B. is a trade and development consultant with a keen interest in sustainable development, international law and trade. All views herein expressed are her personal views and should not be attributed to any institution with which she may from time to time be affiliated. You can read more of her commentaries and follow her on Twitter @LicyLaw.

  • World exports of intermediate goods increased 20% in Q1, says WTO

    World exports of intermediate goods increased 20% in Q1, says WTO

    Alicia Nicholls

    According to a World Trade Organization (WTO) quarterly report released on September 2, global exports of intermediate goods saw a 20% year on year increase in the first quarter of 2021. The WTO report defines intermediate goods as those goods used as inputs in the production of a final product. It noted that “growth was strongest for IG ores, precious stones and rare earths (43 per cent) and food and beverages (22 per cent).”

    Asia was the region which saw the highest percentage growth (28%) in the exports of these goods, mainly due to China. Indeed, China, the US, Germany, Hong Kong (China) and Japan were the top exporters of intermediate goods, according to the WTO report. The first four countries were also the top importers globally, while India was the fifth.

    Access the WTO report here.

  • Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – August 22-28, 2021

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – August 22-28, 2021

    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

    NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

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