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  • Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – May 2-8, 2021

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – May 2-8, 2021

    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

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  • CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations holds 24th Meeting (Virtual) – 6-7 May 2021

    CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations holds 24th Meeting (Virtual) – 6-7 May 2021

    (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 –

    1. the designation of CARICOM Member States as high-risk territories thereby resulting in the ongoing loss of correspondent banking relationships (CBRs); and
    1. the unilateral actions to blacklist some Member States as non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.

    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.

  • Closer Africa-Caribbean Relations: A COVID ‘legacy good’?

    Closer Africa-Caribbean Relations: A COVID ‘legacy good’?

    Alicia Nicholls

    Without doubt, if one considers the significant loss of life, human suffering and economic hardship inflicted by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since December 2019, the negatives far outweigh the positives. But as the saying goes, when ‘life gives you lemons, make lemonade’. For those unfamiliar with this phrase, it is an entreaty to make some good out of a less than ideal situation, no matter how bad it is. In this article, I argue that deeper south-south cooperation, and in particular closer Africa-Caribbean cooperation, appears to be one potential COVID-19 ‘legacy good’.

    First, let me state from the outset that bilateral and regional initiatives towards deepening Africa-Caribbean ties predate COVID-19. For instance, the African Union (AU) has for some time now recognized the African diaspora (including that in the Caribbean) as its sixth region. In 2019, the leaders of two African countries, Ghana and Kenya, respectively, made separate high-level visits to the region. Jamaica has its Africa-Caribbean Institute of Jamaica. An AU-CARICOM forum was planned for July 2020 but had to be unfortunately postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CARICOM also announced the creation of a joint embassy to be housed in Nairobi, Kenya. Moreover, African and Caribbean countries participate and cooperate in various multilateral and other fora, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations (UN), Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the Commonwealth of Nations, as examples.

    However, it could be argued that the exigencies of the COVID-19 crisis have intensified the need for deeper Africa-Caribbean collaboration on areas of mutual interest in multilateral fora and at the regional and bilateral levels. As many western countries turned inward to focus on bringing the crisis under control in their countries, Caribbean countries were forced to turn to newer non-traditional partners for assistance in accessing vaccines. For instance, to use another South-South example, India’s generous donation of vaccines to Barbados and Dominica were critical to the start of Barbados’ vaccine programme which to date has vaccinated over 70,000 Barbadians, or nearly a third of the population. As such, it is heartbreaking to watch what is happening in India at the moment as it undergoes a deadly second-wave. I continue to keep our Indian brothers and sisters in my prayers.

    Turning back to Africa, CARICOM was also granted access to the Africa Medical Supplies Platform, a procurement system for medical supplies. Jamaica became the first CARICOM Member State to receive vaccine supplies under that mechanism. In a COVID-19 environment, improved vaccine access for developing countries has been a unifying theme for Africa and Caribbean countries’ multilateral cooperation, including at the sub-regional level. Both regions have condemned vaccine nationalism, particularly the hoarding of vaccines and imposition of export controls on needed medical supplies by some developed countries.

    Another laudable recent development in Africa-Caribbean cooperation is the formation of the Africa-CARICOM Group (AfCAR), a geopolitical grouping of sixty-eight African and Caribbean countries in the UN in March this year. Their first act was to issue a joint statement in the UN General Assembly in commemoration of  the ‘International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade’.

    There are many other areas in which Africa-Caribbean cooperation already exist, such as climate change, debt relief, financing for development and repatriations for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, for example. There has been some  high-level cooperation involving Caribbean, African and Pacific countries on raising awareness on the de-risking issue, manifested most acutely by the withdrawal or restriction by large Western banks of correspondent banking services to banks in developing countries. African and Caribbean countries are among the most affected by this practice which has implications for trade, investment attraction and financial inclusion. The upcoming UNCTAD XV Quadriennial Conference due to be hosted virtually and chaired by Barbados in October this year presents another opportunity for our regions to collaborate on placing these and other issues on the global trade and development agenda.

    Additionally, as tourism-dependent Caribbean economies hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic seek to step up diversification efforts, African countries are among those targeted for greater economic engagement. Barbados has announced the creation of embassies in Ghana and Kenya (part of the CARICOM joint effort), while Jamaica will establish diplomatic relations with Liberia and Togo. Both Barbados and Jamaica have indicated the deployment of enhanced economic diplomacy as part of their Post-COVID-19 recovery strategies. There are also promising areas for further regional and bilateral collaboration, such as agri-business and sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, the cultural industries, education and digital payments systems.

    Naturally, for this momentum of closer Africa-Caribbean ties to be sustained, it must transcend the political level and trickle down to greater business-to-business and people-to-people engagement. Banking relationships would also need to improve to faciliate greater trade between the two regions. Current political discussions on improving air and sea connectivity would help to bolster the still meagre tourism, trade and investment ties between the two regions. Africa-Caribbean goods trade volumes remain small, with CARICOM countries enjoying a trade surplus with the continent on a whole.

    At the bilateral level, December 2020 saw an inaugural direct flight between Montego Bay (Jamaica) and Lagos (Nigeria), in hopes of commencing a regularly scheduled and most overdue direct link between the African continent and the English-speaking Caribbean. The potential for strong Africa-Caribbean tourism exists as an increasing number of Afro-Caribbean persons are interested in tracing their genealogy, discovering their African roots and learning about the ‘Motherland’. Encouragingly, the region’s top tertiary institution, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Ghana. This raises the possibility of enhanced student and faculty exchanges, other educational collaboration and meaningful academic research between our two regions.

    As I conclude, I concur with the sage words of Dr. Len Ishmael who noted in her 2019 study ‘Under-invested: The Caribbean-African Relationship‘:

    “The future of Caribbean-African relations is one ripe with potential and promise, but it requires
    the investments of time, attention and political will to transform the relationship into one fit for
    purpose and suitable for these modern times.”

    It would also be remiss of me if in concluding I fail to lament the dearth of scholarship on Africa-Caribbean relations. As such, Afronomics Law will be hosting a scholarly Blog Symposium examining the “Prospects for deepening Africa-Caribbean Economic Relations”. The deadline for submission of blog contributions is May 14. Learn more about the symposium and how to submit a blog piece here.

    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.

  • Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – April 25 – May 1, 2021

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – April 25 – May 1, 2021

    Happy International Labour Day 2021 to all! Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest for the week of April 25-May 1, 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 at the Caribbean Trade Law & Development Blog continue to keep our brothers and sisters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in our prayers, who on top of the recent eruption of the La Soufriere volcano, this week faced mud lahars caused by heavy rainfall. They still need our help. One of the ways in which you can donate is via the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s relief fund here.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    On May 1, Mercosur countries signed the bloc’s e-commerce agreement. Read more here.

    The European Parliament voted on April 27 to approve the UK-EU Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement, although calling the UK’s withdrawal from the EU a “historic mistake”. Read the press release from the European Parliament here.

    On April 26, the European Commission held its 2021 Trade Policy Day to discuss its new Trade Strategy to promote an open, sustainable and assertive trade policy for the EU. To watch the recording of the EU’s Trade Policy Day proceedings, view here.

    The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) marks 100 days! Read this feature on the AfCFTA by the Namibian Economist here.

    UNCTAD has published a new research paper examining why the predominant strategy to build back better after the COVID-19 crisis is flawed and calls for a different reform agenda. Access the full paper here.

    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

    Sales at Haiti markets account for 7.5% of Dominican exports

    Dominican Today: The sales of the Dominican Republic-Haiti binational markets equal 7.5% of total Dominican exports, according to a study by the Central Bank. Read more

    Hot water plant coming to boost mango export

    Jamaica Gleaner: Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says he is confident that the construction of a hot-water treatment plant, which is slated to be completed during the current financial year, will help to open more doors for Jamaica in the mango-export market. Read more

    Jamaican Julie and East Indian Mangoes Shipped to UK

    Jamaicans.com: According to Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, over 4,700 kilograms of mangoes were shipped from the island to the United Kingdom on April 22, 2021. Read more

    Jamaica to enhance trade and investment opportunities under EDP

    Jamaica Observer: Jamaica has been making efforts to enhance its foreign trade and investment opportunities under the Economic Diplomacy Programme (EDP). Read more

    St Vincent exports produce despite La Soufriere

    TT Newsday: Despite the devastation to the St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) agricultural industry caused by the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano – the most devastating impact in the agricultural sector has faced in more than 100 years – tonnes of produce grown by SVG farmers still arrived on Trinidad and Tobago’s shores on Tuesday. Read more

    Private businesses in Cuba register slight increase in exports

    OnCuba: The services sector stands out as one of the main forays into the international market, the general director of Foreign Trade, Vivian Herrera, recently published on her official Twitter account. Read more

    Cuba increases non-state forms of management in foreign trade activities

    Radio Cadana Agramonte: Non-state management forms in Cuba have so far signed 1,987 contracts with state enterprises aimed at facilitating the export and import of goods and services. Read more

    Bee honey exports increase in Camagüey

    Radio Cadena Agramonte: The export of bee honey in the province of Camagüey reported at the end of the first quarter an income of more than eight million dollars (USD), higher than the four million 905 thousand 600 USD planned for that period. Read more

    St Vincent to get US$2.2 million from CCRIF

    Nation News: The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) Monday said that it would be paying out an estimated US$2.2 million for relief and recovery efforts following the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Read more

    ICAO Council President lauds Eastern Caribbean approach to aviation recovery

    Mirage: The regional collaborative approach achieved by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will contribute to an accelerated and sustainable recovery of the aviation sector, ICAO Council President Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano remarked during a ministerial meeting that took place virtually yesterday. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Pressure mounts to reopen Brexit deal

    BBC: Meat and seafood, particularly exports by small firms, are paying the highest price for the Brexit deal, and pressure is growing to lighten the burden of paperwork. Read more

    ‘Black day’ leaves UK fishing worse off than before Brexit

    Euractiv: The collapse of talks on a fishing quota deal with Norway has exposed the vulnerability of the UK’s fishing industry and left it in a weaker position than when the UK was in the EU, fishing leaders have said. Read more

    Aligning EU-UK phytosanitary measures must be ‘top priority’, warn agri industry

    Euractiv: The EU and UK may have finally ratified their trade deal, but question marks remain over how the two partners will align their phytosanitary regulation, which is causing a considerable headache for the agrifood sector. Read more

    Quite a challenge’: UK restaurants and pubs face staffing crisis after Brexit

    The Guardian: Venues aim to recruit after Covid but face lack of supply of skilled people from the EU. Read more

    MEPs lament ‘lose-lose’ situation as EU Parliament votes Brexit trade pact

    Euractiv: The bruises left by the Brexit process were evident on Tuesday (27 April) even as EU lawmakers endorsed the trade deal that now governs economic relations between the UK and EU, almost five years after the UK voted to leave the bloc. Read more

    China’s new IP rights protections fall short: Biden’s trade rep

    The Biden administration urged China to do more to respect the intellectual property of US firms, signalling that the US will maintain pressure applied under Donald Trump to crack down on commercial crimes ranging from IP theft to counterfeiting and digital piracy. Read more

    Biden’s EU Trade Dilemma

    Maritime Logistics Professional: The Biden administration faces a major dilemma in its dispute with the European Union over Trump-era steel and aluminum tariffs: back down to avoid acute pain for Harley-Davidson Inc and whiskey distillers or stick with the duties even though they are now exacerbating acute shortages for U.S. manufacturers. Read more

    U.S. to join effort to curb climate-warming emissions from shipping

    Reuters: The United States will join an international effort to achieve zero emissions by 2050 in the global shipping industry, climate envoy John Kerry announced ahead of a summit of world leaders President Joe Biden will host this week. Read more

    U.S. Chamber Releases In-Depth Analysis of Potential U.S.-Kenya Free Trade Agreement

    US Chamber of Commerce: Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC), in partnership with Covington and the American Chamber of Commerce Kenya, released a new in-depth analysis “U.S.-Kenya Trade Negotiations: Implications for the Future of the U.S.-Africa Trade Relationship,” examining the challenges and benefits of a potential free trade agreement (FTA) between the U.S. and Kenya. Read more

    Biden Names Trade Expert Celeste Drake as ‘Made in America’ Director

    Bloomberg: President Joe Biden has selected Celeste Drake, a longtime trade expert from AFL-CIO, to be the first director of his initiative to steer more federal dollars to U.S. manufacturers and producers, an administration official said. Read more

    Biden trade adviser and Bill Gates discussed IPR waiver for COVID-19 vaccines

    WBHL: U.S. President Joe Biden’s top trade adviser met virtually with Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates on Tuesday about increasing COVID-19 vaccine production and the proposed waiver of intellectual property rights protections for vaccines. Read more

    Biden’s first 100 days: USTR Tai testifies on China trade deal

    Nikkei Asia: U.S. President Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office, marked by the coronavirus, reforging alliances and climate change, will come to an end on Thursday. Read more

    Mexico’s Supreme Court overturns longtime ban on U.S. fresh potato imports

    Blue Book Services: Today, April 28, 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled by a unanimous vote of five to zero in favor of overturning a 2017 lower court decision that prevented the Mexican federal government from implementing regulations to allow for the importation of fresh U.S. potatoes throughout the country. Read more

    Ecuador’s banana sector seeks to strengthen its relationship with Asia

    Fresh Plaza: The Ecuadorian banana sector demonstrated its resilience capacity in 2020, growing by 5.6% despite the issues brought by the global health crisis. However, as its representatives expressed at a virtual press conference on Tuesday, it continues to work to broaden its commercial horizons, especially in Asia. Read more

    Singapore and region stand to benefit from RCEP free trade agreement: MAS

    Strait Times: The world’s largest trade pact will reduce tariffs and harmonise trade rules, and Singapore and the region stand to gain from it by being more deeply plugged into global supply chains. Read more

    South Africa’s trade surplus grows to $3.67 billion in March

    Reuters: South Africa recorded its largest trade surplus on record in March, data showed on Friday, with sales of commodities and minerals rising sharply as global demand driven by the economic recovery from the coronavirus continued. Read more

    With AfCFTA, ‘Africa is sending a crystal clear signal’ that it is open for business says Wamkele Mene

    The Africa Report: On 26 April African Continental Free Trade Area will hold the inaugural meeting of its Disputes Settlement Body which will be central to the fair and effective operation of what will eventually be Africa’s single market. In this exclusive opinion piece for The Africa Report, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, explains how this body will work and avoid the pitfalls of other trading blocs. Read more

    AfCFTA: Togo adopts strategic plan to boost its exports in Africa

    TogoFirst: Togo now has a national strategy to boost exports to other African countries. This is as African governments are doubling down on efforts to effectively implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Read more

    AfCFTA Will Unlock Africa’s Agri-Business Potential- President Kagame

    KT Press: President Paul Kagame says the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be the solution to the continent’s food security challenges by unlocking the agribusiness potential by opening up new market fronts and end reliance on food imports. Read more

    UK’s Truss expects Airbus-Boeing row to be resolved by July

    Reuters: British trade minister Liz Truss expects the trade dispute over Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing (BA.N) to be resolved by July when a freeze on tit-for-tat tariffs expires, she told Reuters on Friday. Read more

    India, South Africa to make fresh push for waiver of vaccine patents at WTO

    Hindustani Times: Diplomats of the two countries are working on revising the text of a proposal originally submitted by India and South Africa last October. Read more

    Japan approves world’s largest trade deal including China, ASEAN

    The Jakarta Post: Japan’s parliament approved Wednesday the world’s largest free trade deal, signed by 15 Asia-Pacific countries including China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, raising the possibility for the pact to enter into force later this year. Read more

    China-Australia relations: as wine exports continue piling up at Chinese ports, Australian officials explore options

    South China Morning Post: While Australia’s wine exports to China have plummeted, those to Britain surged by 33 per cent in the 12-month period to March. Read more

    Wine exports to China crash after heavy impact of tariffs

    9News: Australian wine exports to China collapsed to just $12 million in the four months that ended on March 31 from $325 million in the same period a year earlier, as punitive tariffs took their toll. Read more

    Australia-UK free trade agreement ready by June, minister says

    7News: UK trade minister Liz Truss is upbeat about concluding a free trade agreement with Australia by June, saying “huge progress” has been made. Read more

    Mercosur’s future up for debate at key meeting next month

    Buenos Aires Times: Member nations agree to debate ‘flexibilisation’ of bloc’s rules at key meeting in May. Uruguay continues to push for liberalisation of tariffs, rules on free-trade deals. Read more

    Uruguay presents plan to make Mercosur trade talks more flexible

    Buenos Aires Times: According to the draft document released by the Foreign Ministry in Montevideo, the proposal would allow member states, under some conditions, to initiate negotiations “either as a group or individually.” Read more

    EU seeks Mercosur green commitments by end-2021 – EU trade chief

    Yahoo Finance: The European Union is seeking meaningful commitments on climate change and deforestation from Brazil and other Mercosur countries by the end of 2021 to push forward a trade agreement, European trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Friday. Read more

    Brazil intends to modernize MERCOSUR, to improve competitiveness – Trade secretary

    Rio Times: The special secretary listed the efforts Brazil has made efforts to reform and modernize trade policies and practices, to promote greater integration and competitiveness in the global economy. Read more

    Brazil seeks changes in MERCOSUR rules on tariffs and bilateral negotiations

    Rio Times: In a meeting yesterday, along with Uruguay, the Brazilian government pushed for a 10% reduction in the bloc’s common external tariff on imports. Read more

    Paraguay would ask Mercosur countries to negotiate Cuba’s COVID-19 vaccines

    OnCuba: The Paraguayan delegation in the Mercosur Parliament (PARLASUR) met this Friday with the Cuban ambassador to Paraguay, Raúl Gortázar, to continue advancing in cooperation between the two countries, as well as with the rest of the countries of the South American bloc, also made up of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Read more

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