Caribbean Trade Law and Development

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  • CARICOM Trade Ministers meet for 49th Regular Meeting of COTED

    CARICOM Trade Ministers meet for 49th Regular Meeting of COTED

    Alicia Nicholls

    On November 18-19, 2019, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers of Trade met for the 49th Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

    The meeting was held at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown Guyana, and was chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Affairs of Dominica, the Hon. Francine Baron. Ministers attended both in person and via video conference.

    In her opening remarks, Minister Baron highlighted that COTED “meets at a time when the Region is beset by many challenges”. She pointed, for example, to longstanding challenges such as climate change, threats to the offshore sector, and graduation of several countries from concessional financing, as well as more contemporary threats like the retreat from multilateralism.

    A media advisory sent regarding the meeting noted that the topics for discussion included:

    • A review of the implementation plan for the CSME and challenges associated with implementation
    • CSME administrative procedures
    • competition law and policy in the CSME
    • trade in services
    • agriculture and other goods
    • external economic and trade relations.

    According to the Minister in her statement, Barbados had also placed the matter of trade and climate change on the agenda.

    Under the issue of “external economic and trade relations”, she singled out in particular the issue of WTO reform.

    Minister Baron further noted that some of the matters have been on the agenda for some time now, “some of which can be said to be languishing there without resolution”. As such, she encouraged Ministers ” to approach the deliberations over the next two days with a mindset of compromise and a desire to push through and get some positive movement on some long outstanding matters. ”

    Minister Baron highlighted “the number of requests being made for the suspension of the Common External Tariffs between meetings of the COTED and at the meeting of COTED itself”. She noted that “this should concern us, as these requests are premised on the inability of the region to supply. ” She further proposed “the need for a critical look at these requests and allow same to guide policy development, as relates to investment in regional productivity and manufacturing. ”

    Regrettably, there as yet appears to be no official statement or other information released about what decisions were taken by the Ministers. I would be particularly interested in what decisions were made regarding our positions on WTO reform and the current existential threat facing the WTO’s Appellate Body.

    Speeches from the opening ceremony may be found here:

    REMARKS BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL, TRADE AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION, JOSEPH COX AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE 49TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE COTED, GEORGETOWN, GUYANA, 18 NOVEMBER 2019

    STATEMENT BY COTED CHAIR HON FRANCINE BARON

    Alicia Nicholls, B.Sc., M.Sc., LL.B., is an international trade and development consultant with a keen interest in sustainable development, international law and trade. You can also read more of her commentaries and follow her on Twitter @LicyLaw.

    DISCLAIMER: All views expressed herein are her personal views and do not necessarily reflect the views of any institution or entity with which she may be affiliated from time to time.

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – November 10-16, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – November 10-16, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of November 10-16, 2019! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    The BRICS held their 11th Summit on November 14th in Brasilia, Brazil. Have a read of the summit declaration here.

    Coming up this week, Ministers of Trade in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will gather in Georgetown, Guyana, 18-19 November, for the 49th Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Check to see if CARICOM still relevant to Guyana

    Stabroek: The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) believes Guyana must review its place in CARICOM and decide whether it is beneficial to remain part of the block, and that the country should leverage the looming opportunities in the petroleum sector to secure better trade arrangements with sister States. Read more

    The Bahamas on the road to recovery

    UNDP: Catastrophic winds and storm surge have long since receded in the Bahamas, but the devastation caused by this summer’s Category Five Hurricane Dorian, the strongest in the country’s history, has left the islands staggering. Read more

    CDB, CARICOM in Pact to Expand Single Market

    St Kitts & Nevis Observer: The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will seek to facilitate regional integration and the expansion of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Read more

    Caricom sugar producers want 40% CET on imports

    Trinidad Daily Express: The Caribbean sugar industry is at a crossroads. Free market pressures, operational inefficiencies and sugar producers’ inability to meet manufacturers’ demand for refined white sugar have been a major source of frustration, resulting in an over-reliance on extra-regional sugar imports. Read more

    CARICOM SG calls for more affordable disaster insurance

    Stabroek: Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Irwin LaRocque wants the cost of natural disaster insurance to be more affordable. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    28 developing nations back India on OECD tax proposal

    Livemint: A group of 28 developing nations has backed India’s opposition to a set of new global rules for taxing tech giants being brokered by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Read more

    BRICS Leaders Call for ‘Urgent’ Need to Reform UN, WTO, IMF to Address Issues of Developing Countries

    News18: Emphasising on their commitment to shape a more fair, just, equitable and representative multipolar international order, BRICS leaders underlined the imperative that international organisations be fully driven by member states and promote the interests of all. Read more

    BRICS summit condemns protectionism and pledges to overcome challenges faced by multilateralism

    Mercopress: Five of the biggest emerging economies railed against protectionism on Thursday as they vowed to overcome “significant challenges” facing multilateralism, in a swipe at US tariffs and unilateral action. Read more

    Pacific States to meet in Fiji

    Pacific Scoop: From 19 to 21 November, government officials from the Pacific region, together with the President of the Human Rights Council, Coly Seck of Senegal, and other representatives from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), will gather in Nadi, Fiji to explore ways to strengthen the participation of SIDS in the 47-member Council aiming to improve human rights conditions in their countries and in the region. Read more

    WTO rejects most of India’s claims against US steel duties

    Al Jazeera: The World Trade Organization also said the United States must bring a legislative provision into line with WTO rules. Read more

    U.S. Raises Prospect of Blocking Passage of WTO Budget

    Bloomberg: The Trump administration ratcheted up its pressure on the World Trade Organization by raising the possibility of blocking the approval of the institution’s biennial budget and effectively halting its work starting next year. Read more

    WTO members warn on post-Brexit market access

    RTE: World Trade Organization members have demanded compromises from the EU and Britain to ensure foreign businesses do not lose market access in post-Brexit trade. Read more

    Here’s What It Means to Be a WTO Developing Country

    WashingtonPost: President Donald Trump says it’s not fair for China to receive preferential trade benefits as a developing nation at the World Trade Organization. Trump’s argument is that China — the largest economy in the world after the U.S. — should not enjoy the kind of preferential trade treatment that’s really intended to bolster much poorer nations. Read more

    Australia and others ask for Brexit trade compensation

    BBC: Countries including Australia have asked for trade compensation from the UK and the EU over Brexit disruption. Read more

    Fifteen countries including Brazil, asking for trade compensations from UK/EU Brexit disruption

    Mercopress: Countries including Australia have asked for trade compensation from the UK and the EU over Brexit disruption. Fifteen countries, including the US, India and New Zealand, have been setting out Brexit concerns at a World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Geneva. Read more

    European Union launches WTO trade dispute against Colombia’s unfair duties on frozen fries

    EU: The EU has today brought a dispute to the World Trade Organization (WTO) against unlawful anti-dumping measures imposed by Colombia on frozen fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Read more

    Jack Ma Sees E-Commerce as Africa’s Big Business Opportunity

    Bloomberg: Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., said African entrepreneurs will find countless opportunities in e-commerce, logistics and e-payments as the continent prepares for the start of a free-trade deal. Read more

    Feature: Xi spearheads closer China-LatAm cooperation for common prosperity

    XInhua: China and Latin America sit on the opposite sides of the globe, but the formidably vast Pacific Ocean that separates them did not stop them from sharing a long history of exchanges. Read more

    STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

    NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

    The Caribbean Trade & Development Digest is a weekly trade news digest produced and published by the Caribbean Trade Law & Development Blog. Liked this issue? To read past issues, please visit here. To receive these mailings directly to your inbox, please subscribe to our Blog below:

  • Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – November 3-9, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – November 3-9, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of November 3-9, 2019! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    China hosted a WTO Mini Ministerial in Shanghai on November 5th. Jamaica was among the countries which attended. Read more here.

    India has opted out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Read more

    Two high level meetings were held in Barbados this week: An Insurance Colloquium with the theme ‘Insurance in the Age of Climate Change‘ hosted by the Government of Barbados and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the 2019 Caribbean Forum: Regional Transformation for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth hosted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Barbados to partner with Suriname for Black Belly Sheep operation

    Barbados Advocate: Local agricultural officials are seeking to partner with their counterparts in Suriname, to facilitate a Black Belly Sheep operation which will see land being utilised in that CARICOM country to increase production of our Black Belly Sheep and to build out the full value chain, where the local industry is concerned. Read more

    Saint Lucia gets help from Argentina to boost honey production, marketing

    IICA: The authorities of Saint Lucia give final touches to the preparations for the next visit of two Argentine experts in the framework of API Caribe, a regional project of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the government of Argentina to boost the beekeeping industry of the Caribbean nations. Read more

    Jamaica Launches Online Investment Guide

    JIS: Jamaica has joined 28 other nations, including several Caribbean states, that have developed online investment guides (iGuides). Read more

    Holness assures China of Jamaica’s cooperation in economic development

    Jamaica Observer: Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday welcomed the opportunity to pair Jamaican minds and aspirations with China’s experience and know-how. Holness said that Jamaica was excited about exploring the possibilities of pairing those assets in areas such as renewable energy, border security, agriculture, health care, and STEM education to achieve sustainability and resilience in its economy. Read more

    New age limit on imported vehicles takes effect

    Jamaica Observer: The new age limit at which motor vehicles can be imported into the island has taken effect. Read more

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Export Largest Single Shipment of Livestock to Grenada

    OECS: The bilateral agri-export agreement between Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to grow from strength to strength. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is set to export a shipment of 100 heads of cattle and 400 pigs to Grenada on November 17, 2019. Read more

    UWITV: The Caribbean/St Vincent election

    Watch the recording of the debate here.

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    As deadline looms, WTO fish subsidy talks get new Colombian chief

    Reuters: World Trade Organization (WTO) member states agreed on Friday to a new chair for talks to end harmful fishing subsidies, though an NGO said it would still take a “Herculean” effort to reach a deal before an end-December deadline. Read more

    India, 16 others complain to WTO about EU’s residue limits for pesticides

    Hindu Business Line: India and sixteen other countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and the US have complained at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the EU decision to amend its policy on the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for a wide range of pesticides mainly used in the cultivation of citrus fruit and bananas. Read more

    Trade and Trade Diversion Effects of United States Tariffs on China

    UNCTAD: The study, Trade and Trade Diversion Effects of United States Tariffs on China, shows that the ongoing US-China trade war has resulted in a sharp decline in bilateral trade, higher prices for consumers and trade diversion effects (increased imports from countries not directly involved in the trade war). Read more

    East Asia Summit: PM Lee calls on regional leaders to update trade rules to keep up with digital economy

    Strait Times: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Nov 4) called on Asean nations and their partners to help write a new rule book on trade to keep up with the rapidly evolving digital economy. Read more

    RCEP trade deal can take effect without India, Thailand confirms

    Nikkei Asian Review: A historic Asia-Pacific trade pact may come into force without one of the biggest participants — a hesitant India — a top Thai official indicated on Friday. Read more

    Passing USMCA by Thanksgiving would be a ‘linchpin’ for global trade, former Trump aide says

    CNBC: Congress must approve the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement in order to provide a linchpin for global trade discussions, according to Rick Dearborn, the former White House deputy chief of staff for policy. Read more

    India, 30 other nations call to protect WTO appellate body at Shanghai meet

    Livemint: India and 30 other countries on Tuesday called for urgently resolving an impasse at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) highest dispute settlement body, which faces being reduced to a one-judge court after 11 December. Read more

    STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

    NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

    The Caribbean Trade & Development Digest is a weekly trade news digest produced and published by the Caribbean Trade Law & Development Blog. Liked this issue? To read past issues, please visit here. To receive these mailings directly to your inbox, please subscribe to our Blog below:

  • CARICOM to tackle roaming rates

    CARICOM to tackle roaming rates

    [Press Release] Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers with responsibility for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have agreed to collectively approach the Region’s telecommunications providers to eliminate roaming charges throughout the Community. This is one of the priorities which they identified as an early benefit with respect to achieving a CARICOM Single ICT Space.

    At a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Friday, by video-conference, the Ministers agreed that this would provide social and economic benefits to the people and to the Region.

    A number of regional and international organisations and CARICOM Youth Ambassadors also took part in the discussions.

    Chairman of the meeting, Dr the Rt Honourable Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and Lead Head of Government for Science and Technology including ICT, said this was an issue which would give a real boost to regional integration and had the potential to drive growth and development in the Community.

    CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque concurred with the sentiments of the Prime Minister and stated that this should be viewed as a low-hanging fruit in achieving the Single ICT Space which should be realised as soon as practically possible.

    The Single ICT Space will allow for harmonisation of the ICT and other legislative frameworks in CARICOM, the removal of roaming charges, the encouragement of digital entrepreneurship, equipping all CARICOM nationals as digital citizens and looking at ICT financial solutions among other regional benefits. The Ministers emphasised the importance of cyber security in underpinning the Single ICT Space.

    The Ministers agreed on a Ministerial Understanding on the Single ICT Space in which they identified priorities as: developing the ICT sector as a catalyst to foster closer regional economic integration; enhancing the competitiveness of the Region through a vibrant ICT industry; and using the Single ICT Space as a driver of the CARICOM digital economy and the transformation of key sectors.

    The Understanding notes that the realisation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be greatly advanced by the strategic application and increased usage of ICT and applying a whole-of-government approach.

    The Ministers recognised the ICT Space could only be developed with partnership and commitment of all stakeholders in the public and private sectors, civil society and International Development Partners.

    The preceding was a press release from the CARICOM Secretariat. The photo is of Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada.