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  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – May 12-18, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – May 12-18, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of May 12-18, 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

    It has been a busy week in trade news! This week, Ministers and High Level officials from 23 developing countries, including Barbados and Jamaica, met in New Delhi, India, on 13 and 14 May 2019 at a WTO Informal Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries, to discuss recent developments at the WTO and to find solutions. The declaration from the meeting may be read here. APEC Trade Ministers also met this week. Read their Joint Statement here.

    The US has reached a deal with Canada and Mexico to remove retaliatory tariffs on steel and aluminum, eliminating a major hurdle for the ratification of the USMCA. Read Joint Statement by US and Canada and US and Mexico here.

    The USITC held its hearings for its upcoming 24th Report of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act: Impact on U.S. Industries and Consumers and on Beneficiary Countries. Testimony may be found here.

    Regionally, CARICOM foreign ministers and high level officials attended the Twenty-Second Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR)  convened in St. George’s, Grenada on the 13-14 May 2019, under the Chairmanship of the Honourable C. Peter David, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour of Grenada. Read the official communique here. 

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Caribbean has stake in UNCITRAL Investor-State Dispute Settlement reform

    St. Lucia News Now: Caribbean States must make their voices heard in the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) reform discussions currently underway in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). This was the strong take-away message from the 5th SRC Lunch Time Chat held by the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy & Services (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at the SRC’s Conference Room, CARICOM Research Building, the UWI. Read more 

    Barbados removes visa restrictions for some countries 

    Nation News: No longer will visas be required for nationals of the following African countries to enter Barbados: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Morocco, Senegal, Rwanda and Burkina Faso. Visa waivers have also been granted to the Gulf States of Bahrain, Jordan, Oman and Qatar as well as the Asian countries of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and India. In addition, Barbados has an honorary consul present in Monaco and visa requirements have also been lifted for that nation. Read more 

    Jamaica Trade Information Portal Launched

    JIS News: The country’s trade environment and procedures have been significantly enhanced with the launch of the Jamaica Trade Information Portal (JTIP). The portal provides a single authoritative source for trade information relating to import-export regulations, requirements and processes, which businesses can easily access at any time. Read more

    Jamaica government developing system to measure sport

    Jamaica Observer: The Government is working to develop a system to effectively measure the contribution of sport to national development. Read more 

    Trump Move Could Affect Cuba-Jamaica Trade – Ambassador Says Businesses Could Feel Pinch If US Fully Imposes Title Three Of Helms-Burton Act

    Jamaica Gleaner: Inés Fors Fernández, Cuban ambassador to Jamaica, says that it is a foregone conclusion that her country will be massively affected should the United States go ahead with full implementation of the Title Three provision of the Helms-Burton Act. Read more 

    Legislation Passed to Make it Easier to Do Business in Guyana

    Caribbean360: People and businesses involved in trade and transport can expect an improved “ease of doing business” in Guyana. This follows yesterday’s passage of the Customs and Trade Single Window System Bill 2019 which provides for a single submission of documents electronically for fees, levies, duties, and taxes due to the government on goods which are imported or exported. Read more 

    CARICOM and Colombia relations get a boost

    Breaking Belize News: On Thursday, May 16, 2019, the revival of the relationship between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Colombia was given a boost with discussions between CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador, Irwin LaRocque, and Colombia’s Foreign Minister H.E. Carlos Homes Trujillo Gracia. Read more 

    CARICOM Denounces New US Moves Against Cuba

    Jamaica Gleaner: In a statement issued following the two-day CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) meeting, CARICOM said it “concerned by the new measures under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act announced by the Government of the United States of America which would strengthen the US economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. Read more 

    Tourism Minister Issues Challenge To Rum Producers

    The Voice (St Lucia): Caribbean rum producers have been challenged to fully exploit the potential of the regional tourism industry to boost their brands. Read more 

    CARICOM seeking to strengthen partnership with US

    Stabroek: CARICOM regional foreign ministers, at the 22nd Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), reaffirmed the community’s need to strengthen partnerships with traditional partners, and forge relationships with new ones. Read more 

    There Is A Growing Market For Nutraceuticals In Integrated Cancer Treatment in the Caribbean

    Forbes: Cancer is the second leading cause of death due to non-communicable diseases in the English-speaking Caribbean. This has created a growing demand for the integration of Caribbean plants and herbs with well-documented medicinal properties as an adjunct to the conventional cancer protocol. Read more 

    Diplomat urges US to seek extension of WTO waiver for the Caribbean

    Antigua Observer: Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States has urged the US government to seek an extension of a waiver that allows Caribbean countries to continue to benefit from the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA). Read more 

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    China submits proposal on WTO reform

    CGTN: China on Monday submitted a proposal on the World Trade Organization (WTO) amid a rise in unilateralism and protectionism that are challenging the authority and efficacy of the intergovernmental organization. Read more 

    Challenges of 7.3 billion people in developing countries should be considered during global trade negotiations: Suresh Prabhu

    Zee News: More than 7.3 billion people living in developing countries should not be deprived of the benefits of growth, said Union civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu said at World Trade Organization’s ministerial meeting of developing countries which concluded in New Delhi on Tuesday. Read more 

    Developing nations call for strengthening ‘special and differential’ provisions at WTO

    Hindu Business Line: Seventeen developing and least developed countries, representing about 100 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), have called for strengthening of the special & differential treatment (S&DT) mechanism that entitles them to concessions and flexibilities and strengthening of the multilateral trading system. Read more 

    Need to breathe life back into WTO

    Hindu Business Line: These are challenging times for developing countries at the WTO. Ministers and officials of 23 Developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) will bear the brunt of the Delhi heat on May 13-14 to brainstorm trade issues of long-term consequences. India is hosting this informal ministerial of select WTO members. Read more 

    72% of African CEOs think the AfCFTA will have a positive impact on intra-regional trade (OBG)

    ECOFIN: The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will have a positive impact on intra-regional trade, 72 % of African CEOs think. This is the outcome of a survey published on May 9, 2019, by the Oxford Business Group (OBG). Read more 

    Toward Union in Africa

    Havard Politics: Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs estimated in 2015 that only 12 percent of Africa’s trade takes place between nations on the continent, compared with 70 percent within the European Union. The AfCFTA aims to close that gap, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa projects that, if fully implemented, the plan can increase intracontinental trade by over 52 percent. Read more 

    EU-ACP Cotonou successor faces one year delay

    Euractiv: A joint ministerial council next week had been earmarked as the moment for formally concluding the successor to the Cotonou Agreement, which expires in January. But there are now doubts that it will be finalised before the end of the year. Read more 

    British Steel seeks government loan for ‘Brexit issues’

    BBC: British Steel has said it is seeking further financial support from the government to help it address “Brexit-related issues”. It follows reports the company needs a loan of up to £75m to keep trading in the coming months. Read more 

    Japan Drags India To WTO Over Excess Import Duty To Boost Make-In-India Prospects

    Inc42: Japan has complained against India’s excess import duties for smartphones to the World Trade Organisation, the trade body’s filings showed on Tuesday (May 14, 2019). Read more 

    On Huawei and Autos, Trump aligns trade with US security

    Bloomberg: President Donald Trump is taking his trade wars into a new realm likely to both extend them and make them harder to resolve. Read more

    It’s not just China: Trump’s trade war is raging on several fronts

    CNBC: President Donald Trump’s trade war with China is not the only conflict with a major trading partner raging ahead of his reelection bid. Read more 

    EU welcomes auto tariff delay and says ready to negotiate deal

    Reuters: The European Commission welcomed on Friday the delay to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision on whether to impose tariffs on imported cars and said it was prepared to negotiate a transatlantic trade accord that included automobiles. Read more 

    Energy Charter Treaty modernisation: European Commission presents draft negotiating directives

    EU: The European Commission today adopted a proposal for a Council Decision authorising negotiations to modernise the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), to which the EU is part. These negotiations aim to revise the provisions of the ECT so that they reflect modern investment standards, such as the EU’s reformed approach on investment protection. Read more 

    Singapore Minister Chan Chun Sing calls for deeper regional economic integration during Apec meeting

    Strait Times:  Singapore Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing has urged Apec economies to step up on deepening regional economic integration and advance discussions on next generation trade and investment issues, including the digital economy, during a bloc meeting in Vina del Mar, Santiago. Read more 

    What’s China’s proposal on WTO reform?

    CGTN: On May 13, 2019, China’s delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) submitted a long-awaited proposal on WTO reform. Due to the U.S.’ block of the appointment of judges of the WTO’s Appellate Body (AB), the AB will cease to function at the end of 2019, thus paralyzing the dispute settlement mechanism, which lies at the heart of the world trading system and is hailed as the crown of pearl of the WTO. Read more 

    Boeing, aerospace group urge limits to U.S. tariffs over EU subsidies

    Reuters: Senior officials from Boeing Co and a U.S. aerospace trade group on Wednesday urged the U.S. government to narrowly tailor any tariffs imposed on the European Union over illegal aircraft subsidies to avoid harming American manufacturers. Read more 

    US reaches deal to lift steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico

    CNBC: The United States has reached a deal to lift steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico, removing one key obstacle to passing updates to the North American Free Trade Agreement. Read more 

    Farmers are losing patience with Trump’s trade war

    Vox: Farmers in the Midwest are losing a lot of sleep these days. A recent flare-up in the US-China trade war has them panicking that much of their crops may rot for a second year in a row. Some are even worried they may lose their farms if the international spat continues much longer. Read more 

    EU, Japan Reprieve From Trump Car Tariffs May Be Short-Lived

    Bloomberg: The sighs of relief for European and Japanese carmakers after Donald Trump’s expected decision to delay imposing punitive tariffs may prove premature. Read more 

    China says U.S. policies are causing existential damage to the WTO

    Reuters: China said on Monday U.S. policies are threatening the existence of the World Trade Organization, setting out a string of grievances in a WTO “reform proposal” published by the WTO on its website. Read more 

    Brexit: Theresa May plans ‘bold offer’ to get support for deal

    BBC: Theresa May says she intends to make a “bold offer” to MPs in a final attempt to get them to approve her Brexit deal in the next few weeks. Extra protections for workers are expected to be among the proposals, with Mrs May trying to win over the support of some Labour MPs. Read more

    WTO NEWS

    Introductory Trade Policy Course for Least Developed Countries concludes in Geneva

    Twenty-nine government officials from 12 WTO members attended the latest Introductory Trade Policy Course for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which took place at WTO headquarters from 29 April to 17 May. The course was closed with remarks from Dr Maarten Smeets, Chief of Technical Assistance Coordination, Partnership & Internship Programmes in the WTO’s Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation. Read more

    DDG Wolff: The trading system is about fairness and predictability

    Speaking at an event organized by the World Economic Forum in Geneva on 15 May, Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff said: “Providing fairness, providing decent rules for international competition, is the central purpose of the WTO.” This is vitally important for all sectors of industry but as the world economy undergoes a technological revolution, “the rules of international trade need to be updated, and the existing WTO machinery needs to be scrutinized to assure that it is sufficient to meet new challenges”. Read more 

    Panama launches safeguard investigation on certain swine meat

    On 14 May 2019, Panama notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it had decided to initiate on 3 May 2019 a safeguard investigation on certain fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine. Read more

    Japan initiates WTO dispute complaint against Indian tech tariffs

    Japan has requested dispute consultations with India regarding duties imposed by India on imports of certain information and communications technology (ITC) products. The request was circulated to WTO members on 14 May. Read more 

    DDG Wolff highlights role of WTO in facilitating agri-food chains

    The WTO’s rules-based framework benefits farmers and other participants in nascent and developing agri-food value chains by facilitating their daily operations and encouraging regulatory cooperation among governments, WTO Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff told the G-20 Agricultural Summit in Niigata, Japan on 11 May. “All stakeholders in agri-food value chains, and all countries at every stage of economic development, stand to benefit from fully participating in a strengthened and dynamic multilateral trading system,” he said.  Read more

    DG Azevêdo at India’s ministerial meeting: ‘Make your voices heard’ on reform issues

    Participating in an Informal WTO Ministerial Meeting organised by the Indian government in New Delhi on 13 May, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo outlined the current discussions regarding WTO reform and told those attending that “this is your organization … make your voices heard in this debate.” The meeting was hosted by Mr Suresh Prabhu, Commerce and Industry Minister of India, and was attended by a number of developing country ministers. Read more 

    The Caribbean Trade & Development Digest is a weekly trade news digest 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 follow our blog.

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – May 5-11, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – May 5-11, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of May 5-11, 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

    This week, US-China trade talks came to an end without any agreement. The Trump Administration increased the level of tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on approximately $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. Read the statement by USTR Robert Lighthizer here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Cuba to increase rationing amid shortages

    BBC: Cuba has announced rationing of more products amid shortages it blames on the US trade embargo and hoarders. Read more 

    Fake skills certificates detected in the region

    The New Today: Grenada is among six CARICOM countries that have been on the receiving end of fake skills certificates from CARICOM nationals especially Jamaicans who are seeking employment. Read more 

    Seprod Drops Case For Evaporated Milk, But Ready For Condensed Market

    Jamaica Gleaner: Jamaica need only prove that it can supply three-quarters of the market for condensed and evaporated to gain protection for manufacturers, but a top dairy producer, Seprod Limited, says it already has the capacity to serve 100 per cent of the Caribbean market for one of those commodities. Read more 

    Better cocoa – T&T Ministry of Trade & Industry wants improved quality of beans

    The Guardian (T&T): Min­is­ter of Trade and In­dus­try, Paula Gopee-Scoon, has pre­sent­ed two new co­coa stan­dards to The Uni­ver­si­ty of the West In­dies (UWI) which were de­vel­oped by the Trinidad and To­ba­go Bu­reau of Stan­dards (TTBS), in­tend­ed to im­prove the qual­i­ty of lo­cal­ly pro­duced co­coa beans. Read more

    Exports ‘tun up’ but not enough – Seaga

    Jamaica Gleaner: Jamaica’s impressive export performance for 2018 when the country recorded a whopping 37.8 per cent increase over the previous year, the highest growth in 10 years, was dampened by the failure to stem in any substantial way the country’s heavy dependence on imported goods, according to Metry Seaga, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporteers’ Association (JMEA). Read more

    Former Barbados Central Bank Governor proposes regional switch to US currency

    Barbados Today: According to former Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados Dr DeLisle Worrell switching to the US currency would essentially eliminate the threat of domestic currency depreciation and with it, the resulting possible disruptions to economic stability. The economist said there was no time like the present to switch to US currency and he noted that the process is not as difficult as some people may imagine. Read more

    Dominica to get technical assistance from World Bank for international airport says Skerrit

    Dominica News Online: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said that the government hopes to access technical assistance from the World Bank in its plans to construct an international airport in Dominica. Read more 

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    WTO meet next week: Appellate body, reforms in focus

    Economic Times: A WTO mini-ministerial meeting of 16 developing and six least-developed countries in Delhi next week will take up impasse over the appointment of appellate body members at the World Trade Organisation and reforms at the global trade body. Read more 

    The Panama Canal Could Become the Center of the U.S.-China Trade War

    Foreign Policy: Following outgoing president Juan Carlos Varela’s unexpected decision to end diplomatic relations with Taiwan in order to establish formal ties with Beijing in June 2017, a tidal wave of Chinese investment is in the works. Read more 

    Rick Scott wants the U.S. Navy to block Cuba and Venezuela’s oil trade

    Miami Herald: A week after Rick Scott called for the U.S. military to intervene in Venezuela amid Juan Guaidó’s attempt to oust Nicolás Maduro from power, the U.S. Senate’s biggest hawk on Venezuela is calling for more. Read more 

    Canada calls out on China at WTO council meeting, demands evidence to back canola ban

    Global News: Stephen de Boer, the Canadian ambassador to the world’s leading trade body in Geneva, told the WTO’s general council on Tuesday that Canada wants to meet in China in good faith to hear its science-based concerns that recent Canadian canola shipments were, in fact, tainted. Read more

    Time to say goodbye to NAFTA’s replacement?

    Toronto Star: Last week, White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney was sanguine about the prospect of Congress rejecting NAFTA’s proposed replacement, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). “You could stay status quo,” Mulvaney told a California business conference. “Your real Plan Bs are either NAFTA or withdraw from NAFTA.” Read more

    Trade war and Brexit pose mounting risk to EU economy, says EC

    The Guardian: The threat of a full-blown trade war between the US and China and Brexit uncertainty are posing mounting risks to the EU economy, the European commission has warned, after downgrading its growth outlook for 2019. Read more 

    Canada’s trade deficit shrank to $3.2 billion in March, StatsCan reports

    CBC: Statistics Canada says the country’s merchandise trade deficit shrank in March as exports — led by the energy sector — rose faster than imports. The agency says the deficit for March amounted to $3.2 billion compared with $3.4 billion in February. Read more

    A defence of the beleaguered WTO Appellate Body

    IELP blog: See blog post by Prof. Steve Charvonitz.  Read here.

    UK, EU to agree free-trade deal, October 31 Brexit date in doubt – Reuters poll

    The Hill: Britain will eventually leave the European Union and agree a free-trade deal with the bloc, according to the vast majority of economists polled by Reuters who were, however, split on whether the two sides would divorce on Oct. 31. Read more

    As Europe grapples with Brexit, the African Union seeks a more United States of Africa

    CNN: While debates about the unpredictability of economic and political relationships between the EU and Britain continue to linger, thousands of miles away, the African Union (AU) is creating a close-knit relationship among its own 55 member nations. Read more

    US imposes sanctions on shipping firms, tankers tied to Venezuela

    The Hill: The Treasury Department on Friday said it is slapping new sanctions on companies involved in shipping oil from Venezuela to Cuba, marking the latest move by the U.S. to clamp down on embattled President Nicolás Maduro. Read more 

    New FinCEN Guidance on Virtual Currencies

    FinCEN: To provide regulatory certainty for businesses and individuals engaged in expanding fields of financial activity, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued the following guidance, Application of FinCEN’s Regulations to Certain Business Models Involving Convertible Virtual Currencies (CVC). Read more 

    Why the New U.S.-EU Trade Talks May Be Doomed Before They Even Start

    Fortune: By the middle of last year, the U.S. had hit the European Union with steel and aluminum tariffs, the EU had responded with counter-tariffs on American goods, and some feared the situation could escalate into a full-blown trade war. Read more 

    EU commissioner says agriculture not on agenda for US talks

    Euractiv: The European Union intends to keep agriculture off the agenda in its trade talks with the United States and continues to support rules-based, open and predictable international commerce, the EU’s agriculture commissioner said on Friday (10 May). Read more 

    USMCA trade deal could cost Georgia produce growers nearly $900 million, report says

    CNBC: Unless the proposed U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) is changed, it could “cause extensive economic damage to Georgia” and its fresh produce industry, according to economists at the University of Georgia. Read more 

    China says ‘fed up’ with hearing U.S. complaints on Belt and Road

    Reuters: China is “fed up” with hearing complaints from the United States about its Belt and Road program to re-create the old Silk Road, the government said on Thursday, following stinging criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Read more 

    Italy could become Belt and Road terminal in southern Europe: officials

    Xinhua: A conference entitled “Italy-China Partnership in the New Silk Road” was held Friday here, at which Italian government officials and experts voiced their support for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), discussing the possibility of Italy becoming the BRI’s terminal in southern Europe. Read more 

    Trade facilitation reforms spur development, experts say

    UNCTAD: Effective implementation of reforms to trade facilitation in developing countries can catalyse progress towards meeting development goals, attendees at an UNCTAD expert meeting heard on 7 May. Read more 

    Canada reveals final trade safeguards for heavy plate, stainless steel wire

    CBC: The Canadian Border Services Agency announced Friday the final ‘safeguard’ surtaxes meant to shield the domestic steel industry from competition from cheaper foreign imports of heavy plate and stainless steel wire. Read more 

    WTO NEWS

    UN’s Guterres underscores importance of revitalizing multilateral trade cooperation

    A rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable trading system is not only in the interest of all trading partners but is essential to preserving the interests of the poorest and most vulnerable economies, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told WTO members on 10 May. Speaking at a special session of the WTO’s General Council, Secretary-General Guterres, alongside Director-General Roberto Azevêdo and General Council Chair Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, said members need to work to restore the spirit of international cooperation and “buttress this unique institution that has safeguarded international trading relationships over the past 70 years”. Read more

    WTO launches updated profiles on trade in value-added terms and global value chains

    The WTO released on 9 May an updated set of profiles for 64 WTO members, revealing the share of domestic and foreign components in the exports of these economies and their participation in global value chains (GVCs). The profiles also shed light on the contribution of the services sector to trade and the value of trade in intermediate products for each of the economies covered by the profiles. Read more 

    DG Azevêdo meets with participants of Geneva Week for non-resident members and observers

    Director-General Roberto Azevêdo met with participants in the Geneva Week for non-resident members and observers, taking place at the WTO from 6 to 10 May 2019. Participants had the opportunity to interact with the Director-General, who informed them about current issues in the WTO and the wider trading system. Read more 

    Trade Policy Review: Papua New Guinea

    The third review of the trade policies and practices of Papua New Guinea takes place on 8 May and 10 May 2019. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Papua New Guinea. Read more 

    Summary of WTO General Council Meeting

    A WTO General Council Meeting was held on May 7, 2019. The summary of the meeting is available here.

    Philippines submits request for observer status in WTO Committee on Government Procurement

    Ambassador Manuel A. J. Teehankee, Philippine Permanent Representative to the WTO, delivered to WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo on 6 May the request of the Philippine government to become an observer in the Committee on Government Procurement. Read more 

    Consumer groups express support for multilateral trade, stress priorities for e-commerce

    Senior representatives of consumer organizations meeting today (6 May 2019) at the WTO headquarters sent a strong message of support for the WTO and the multilateral trading system. They stressed the importance of ensuring consumers’ concerns are taken into account in trade negotiations and policy-making and presented their priorities for e-commerce along with recommendations on how these priorities should be addressed at the WTO. Read more 

    Applications open for WTO workshop on public health, global trade and intellectual property

    The WTO, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), will hold its 6th annual Workshop on Trade and Public Health in Geneva from 11 to 15 November 2019. The deadline to submit applications is 14 June 2019. Read more 

    BLOG NEWS

    59967901_10156350648221687_2425942741625077760_o (2)This week I presented a paper at the 20th Annual SALISES Conference on “Rethinking Caribbean Futures: New Paradigms, Possibilities and Policies” held at the Hilton Hotel, Barbados, May 8-10, 2019.

    The topic of my paper was on rethinking the eligibility model for Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

    The Caribbean Trade & Development Digest is a weekly trade news digest 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 follow our blog.

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – April 28 – May 4, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – April 28 – May 4, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of April 28-May 4, 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

    This week, the CARICOM Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED) held its 48th meeting, while the 19th Spe­cial Meet­ing of the CARI­COM Heads of Gov­ern­ment on Se­cu­ri­ty took place in Trinidad later in the week. On May 2, the US began enforcing Title III of the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 allowing US investors to bring claims against those found to be trafficking property confiscated by the Cuban government.

    The EU has launched a public consultation as part of its evaluation exercise of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. The EU also released their proposal on WTO rules for ecommerce.  Meanwhile, the WTO announced a new fund to assist Least Developed Country members’ participation in fisheries subsidies talks.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Cuba Denounces Intensification of US Blockade before WTO

    Prensa Latina: Cuba denounced in Geneva before the World Trade Organization (WTO) the intensification of the United States, following the activation of Title III of the Helms Burton Law, diplomatic sources say. Read more 

    Carnival hit with Helms-Burton lawsuit for using Havana terminal

    Travel Weekly: A company that owned the cruise terminal in Havana prior to its 1960 confiscation by the Castro government has filed suit seeking damages from Carnival Corp. Read more 

    Trust Deficit Hurting Agricultural Exports

    Jamaica Gleaner: Erasing the trust deficit between local farmers and the exporters who peddle their produce to the Jamaican diaspora in North America and the United Kingdom must be addressed as a matter of priority. Read more

    St. Vincent and the Grenadines hit by cattle shortage

    St Lucia News Online: Local butchers are scheduled to meet with Saboto Caesar, the minister of agriculture, on Monday, amidst claims that there is a cattle shortage in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Richard Gibson, owner of Midway Butchers, told SEARCHLIGHT this week that this country was experiencing a cattle shortage as a result of exports to Grenada. Read more 

    No need for alarm as regional labelling standards

    Jamaica Observer: A regional standard for the labelling of pre-packaged foods is currently being revised, and is being led by the Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) – the regional standards development body. Read more 

    Take care of matters that are important to people – COTED Chair, CARICOM SG

    CARICOM: Barbados Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Hon. Sandra Husbands, wants Trade Ministers to take action on matters that will allow the people of the Region to actively feel the benefit of the CSME. Read more

    Regional rum industry looking to increase share of global market

    Nation News: CARICOM Trade Ministers approved a range of recommendations aimed at positioning the region’s rum industry to better take advantage of the global market. Read more 

    CARICOM urges US to maintain duty-free market access

    Dominica News Online: CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has expressed CARICOM’s interest in the renewal of legislation for the extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the WTO waiver beyond December 2019 to allow continued duty-free access to the US market. Read more 

    Jamaica PM provides details of meeting with US president 

    JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the recent meeting with President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump; and several Caribbean leaders provided a direct opportunity for the strengthening of bilateral and regional relationships. Read more 

    Trade Ministers support international competitiveness for regional rum industry

    Barbados Advocate: CARICOM Trade Ministers who met in Guyana this week, on April 29, approved a range of recommendations aimed at positioning the region’s rum industry to better take advantage of the global market. Read more 

    Implementation of CSME cannot be a shifting target- CARICOM Secretary-General warns COTED

    Kaieteur News: CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has called for consistent efforts of Regional Heads for the implementation of recommendations, towards the achieving goals set out under the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). Read more 

    Customs and Excise Department holds Asycuda sensitization workshop

    Searchlight: Direct trader input, faster clearance time, and increase in revenue collection are just some of the benefits of using ASYCUDA software. That’s the word from ASYCUDA Coordinator at the Customs and Excise Department, Samantha Robinson. Read more

    Bim in ‘new’ world battle, says Husbands

    Barbados Today: Barbados could soon find itself in another compliance battle with an international body over its trade and taxation practices, Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade Sandra Husbands told Parliament today. Read more

    Rowley: Robust regional security is essential

    Guardian (T&T): Fol­low­ing are the open­ing re­marks de­liv­ered by Prime Min­is­ter Dr Kei­th Row­ley at the 19th Spe­cial Meet­ing of the CARI­COM Heads of Gov­ern­ment on Se­cu­ri­ty cur­rent­ly tak­ing place in Port-of-Spain. Read more 

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Does China really control Africa’s destiny?

    Devex: For decades, development partners from industrialized nations have relied on aid and foreign direct investment to finance infrastructure developments, stimulate economic growth, and build technical capacity. Countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany have, for many years, led the way in providing international support to developing economies. Read more 

    AU Commission prepares for single market launch in July

    The East African: The African Continental Free Trade Area will enter into force during the next African Union Summit slated for Niamey, Niger, in July. Read more 

    African countries urged to discuss modalities as AfCFTA edges closer to effect

    Xinhua: The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Saturday urged African countries and pan-African institutions to prepare modalities as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) edges closer to entry into force. Read more 

    Malaysia: ASEAN’s e-commerce gateway to China

    The ASEAN Post: As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution and practically everything is moving online, the importance of e-commerce is heightened now more than ever before. E-commerce, in fact, is quickly becoming the primary mode of business and trade around the world – ASEAN included.  Read more 

    UN Chief to Address WTO General Council next week

    Business Standard: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is to make a historic address to the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) next week, the UN said here on Friday. Read more 

    Abe vows to seek WTO reforms at G20 Osaka summit

    NHK: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will raise the issue of reforming the World Trade Organization at the Group of 20 nations summit in Osaka in June. Read more 

    EU-Brazil trade should be more sustainable, 600 scientists say

    Euractiv: In an open letter, 600 European scientists and 300 indigenous groups are calling for the EU to insist on the respect for environmental and human rights standards in its current trade negotiations with Brazil. EURACTIV Germany reports. Read more 

    EU vows to respond to US sanctions to protect companies in Cuba

    Euractiv: The European Union is ready to counter potential US sanctions against European companies in Cuba, the bloc’s top diplomat said on Thursday (2 May), following Washington’s reactivation of parts of the legislation that would allow US citizens to file lawsuits against investors in the island. Read more 

    Ecommerce on agenda at WTO Delhi meet

    Economic Times: E-commerce negotiations at the multilateral level will be a key area of talks at the informal World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting which will take place in Delhi later this month. Read more 

    Pence: tariffs part of enforcement in a US-China trade deal

    Yahoo News: The removal of tough US tariffs on Chinese goods will be part of enforcing any new trade deal between Beijing and Washington, US Vice President Mike Pence said Friday. Read more 

    EU releases proposal on new WTO rules for electronic commerce

    EU: The EU has today made public its text proposal on future rules and obligations on e-commerce as part of WTO negotiations on e-commerce endorsed by Ministers in the margins of the Davos World Economic Forum in January 2019. The release of the text proposal is part of the EU’s commitment to transparency and inclusiveness in the development of its trade policy. Read more 

    Trump Gave the Japanese Prime Minister a Break on Trade, For Now

    TIME: President Donald Trump did Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a favor last week, delaying the start of negotiations on a tricky trade decision, potentially pushing it past that country’s elections in July, three officials briefed on the talks tell TIME. Read more 

    Mexico will not accept more labor enforcement in new NAFTA, top official says

    Politico: A top Mexican official delivered an ultimatum to Democrats on Friday, saying the country will not accept a stronger labor enforcement mechanism in the new North American trade pact and will not support reopening the deal to further negotiation. Read more 

    US boosts exports to Ghana with new framework agreement

    Global Trade Review: The export credit agencies (ECA) of the US and Ghana have signed a US$300mn agreement to support the procurement of US goods and services by Ghanaian SMEs.  Read more 

    79-Nation ACP Group Must Guard Against Lack of Unity

    IndepthNews: The prospect of Brexit, the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, continues to loom large over the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries. If a no-deal Brexit happens in October, this could mean severe consequences for the ACP. Read more 

    Africa Continental Free Trade Area to enter into force in July

    CGTN: The African Continental Free Trade Area will officially enter into force during the next Extra-Ordinary Heads of State and Government summit slated for 7th July 2019 in Niamey, Niger. Read more 

    Mexican Congress Passes Labor Law Tied to USMCA Trade Agreement

    Bloomberg: Mexico’s Senate approved an overhaul to the country’s labor code, a move that U.S. House Democrats made a pre-condition for debating a successor to the Nafta trade deal. Read more 

    ‘Productive’ end to latest round of US-China trade talks

    South China Morning Post: The latest round of trade negotiations between China and the United States concluded on Wednesday, with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin describing the talks as productive. Read more 

    What’s at Stake and at Risk in the U.S.-Japan Trade Talks

    Fortune: More than two years after U.S. President Donald Trump walked away from a regional Asia-Pacific trade agreement, the U.S. and Japan — the world’s largest and third-largest economies — are negotiating a deal of their own. Both sides insist they want a “win-win” outcome, but as evidenced by the Trump administration’s tariff battles with China and the European Union, there’s also potential for serious economic damage if things go bad. Read more 

    Canadian and Japanese leaders tout benefits of Pacific trade deal that Trump abandoned

    Reuters: The leaders of Canada and Japan on Sunday touted the benefits of a Pacific trade deal that U.S. President Donald Trump walked away from and said the pact should serve as a model for future agreements. Read more 

    EU belittles U.S. claims as ‘frankly childish’ at WTO Airbus hearing

    Reuters: A European Union trade lawyer fired withering put-downs at U.S. claims for damages due to subsidies for European planemaker Airbus in a recording of a dispute hearing made available by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday. Read more

    Free trade and WTO face tests on many fronts

    Asia Times: In the era of Trump, tariff wars and Brexit, a widely-overlooked ruling early this month at the World Trade Organization looks set to place that organization under US threat, at a time when the world is receding ever further into an era of managed trade. Read more 

    EU court backs use of trade tribunals to protect foreign investors

    Reuters: The European Union won backing from the bloc’s top court on Tuesday for its system to protect foreign companies, which proponents say is essential for future trade agreements but critics say unfairly favors multinationals. Read more 

    New NAFTA’s sunset clause is a ticking time bomb

    The Hill: The United States, Mexico and Canada just finished renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but the future of the new NAFTA remains uncertain. Read more 

    WTO NEWS

    DG Azevêdo announces new fund to help LDCs participate in fisheries subsidies talks

    At a meeting of the full WTO membership on 3 May, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo announced that a new WTO trust fund has been established to support least developed countries to take part in negotiations on fisheries subsidies over the coming months, ahead of the end-of-year deadline for this work agreed by members. Read more

    Aid for Trade Global Review 2019 registration now open

    Registration is now open for the Aid for Trade Global Review 2019, to be held from 3 to 5 July under the theme “Supporting Economic Diversification and Empowerment” at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva. The Global Review will discuss how Aid for Trade supports economic diversification and empowerment, with a focus on eliminating extreme poverty, particularly through the effective participation of micro, small and medium enterprises, women and youth. Read more

    10 years of WTO monitoring — enhancing trade policy transparency and predictability

    Following the outbreak of the 2008 global financial crisis, WTO members tasked the WTO Secretariat with the mission to prepare regular updates on the latest trends in the implementation of new trade and trade-related measures and on important developments in trade policy-making. Launched in early 2009, the trade monitoring exercise successfully continues to this day, having delivered 23 WTO-wide and 20 G20 trade monitoring reports over the past decade. Read more 

    WTO opens online registration for 2019 Public Forum

    Online registration for the 2019 Public Forum is now open. The main theme of this year’s event, to be held at the WTO’s headquarters from 8 to 11 October, is “Trading Forward: Adapting to a Changing World”. Registration closes on 16 September 2019. Read more 

    Azevêdo: E-commerce moratorium has long been a feature of the multilateral trading system

    Addressing a workshop on the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions on 29 April, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said the digital economy and the e-commerce moratorium have been an important focus of conversations for many WTO members, particularly since the Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference in 2017.  Read more 

    Members adopt national security ruling on Russian Federation’s transit restrictions

    The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 26 April formally adopted a panel ruling clarifying the use of national security exceptions to WTO rules as invoked in the trade dispute between the Russian Federation and Ukraine over transit restrictions. Read more

    The Caribbean Trade & Development Digest is a weekly trade news digest 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 follow our blog.

  • EU Commission Launches CARIFORUM-EU EPA Public Consultation

    EU Commission Launches CARIFORUM-EU EPA Public Consultation

    The European Commission on April 17, 2019 launched an evaluation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (CARIFORUM-EU EPA) which governs trade between the current EU-28 and CARIFORUM countries. The CARIFORUM-EU EPA has been provisionally applied since 2008.

    Part of this evaluation exercise involves a public consultation in which stakeholders both in the EU and CARIFORUM countries, which are directly affected by the Agreement, are encouraged to contribute to the consultation. They can do so by completing a questionnaire online. The deadline for submission of responses to the survey is June 28, 2019, while the evaluation will take place between April 17, 2019- July 10, 2019.

    Stakeholders include businesses, business organisations and chambers of commerce, workers’ representatives and trade unions, citizens/individuals, workers, consumers, public authorities, NGOs and other civil society organisations, academia, research institutions, experts and think tanks from the EU and CARIFORUM.

    For further information and to complete the questionnaire, visit here.