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  • Trinidad & Tobago receives largely positive feedback during latest WTO Trade Policy Review

    Trinidad & Tobago receives largely positive feedback during latest WTO Trade Policy Review

    Alicia Nicholls

    On May 22 and 24, 2019, the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago underwent the fourth review of its trade policies and practices under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Policy Review Mechanism. Trade Policy Reviews are the process by which the trade practices and policies of each WTO member are collectively evaluated by the WTO Membership (acting as the Trade Policy Review Body) at periodic intervals. Trinidad & Tobago is reviewed every six years and previously underwent reviews in 2012, 2005 and 1998.

    In April this year, the Trade Policy Review Mechanism celebrated 30 years of existence. It is an important aspect of the WTO’s monitoring function and aims to periodically evaluate the impact of each Member’s trade policies and practices on the multilateral system, thereby ensuring accountability, predictability and transparency of the rules-based multilateral trading system.

    An independent report prepared by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the WTO member being reviewed form the basis of the review. Trade Policy Reviews are a detailed and lengthy process which begin many months in advance of the actual meetings in Geneva. In January 2019, a WTO Review team visited Trinidad & Tobago and consulted with various government and private sector stakeholders. This week a delegation from Trinidad & Tobago which was led by H.E. Senator Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry of Trinidad & Tobago and comprised five technical members, was in Geneva, Switzerland for the period May 20-24 to attend the review meetings at the WTO.

    Trinidad & Tobago received largely positive feedback for the current review period (2012-2019). According to the concluding remarks by the Chairperson, more than 200 questions were submitted by 15 Members. The questions and answers are usually available six weeks after the review process is completed. The Chairperson’s concluding remarks noted that Trinidad & Tobago provided answers to all the written questions submitted in advance of the meeting.

    The Chairperson’s concluding remarks listed the areas in which WTO Members appeared to be pleased with Trinidad & Tobago’s performance, including the return to economic growth after a period of recession, the steps taken to improve its government procurement regime through the passage of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, the modernization of its customs infrastructure and the introduction of a single electronic window in 2012 and the introduction of a new online payment system for import tariffs and other taxes and fees in 2019. They also praised the twin island Republic’s active participation in the WTO, its acceptance of the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in 2013 and its ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement in 2015.

    Trinidad & Tobago was encouraged by some Members to join the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and to become an observer to the Agreement on Government Procurement. Other areas suggested for improvement include facilitation of access to visas and foreign exchange, improving the regime for Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Standards (SPS) and providing further information on enforcement actions for intellectual property rights. Some Members also encouraged Trinidad & Tobago to notify its announcement of an import ban on plastics from 2019 to the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade to allow comments from Members.

    Members, however, raised some areas of particular concern. On the issue of tariffs, they noted, for example, that the applied Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rate exceeded the country’s bound rate on 59 tariff lines in 2018, up from 50 in 2011 during its last review. Another area of concern for Members was while the import surcharges imposed in 1990 were supposed to be temporary, the Government had continued to apply new import surcharges. Members also noted that Trinidad & Tobago’s notifications were either not up to date or outstanding in some areas, but were pleased to learn that the country made a formal request for technical assistance on notifications.

    While Trade Policy Reviews are an often intensive exercise for the Member being reviewed, they are an important opportunity for WTO Members to query other Members’ trade policies and practices, as well as for Members themselves to receive objective periodic feedback on their adherence to rules, disciplines and commitments under the WTO’s agreements, as well as on their general trade and investment framework. This feedback could be useful to Governments seeking to make business and investment facilitation reforms to improve their competitiveness and investment attraction.

    The Secretariat’s detailed report contains extensive information on the overall business environment of the Member reviewed for the review period, including its macroeconomic environment, its legal and regulatory framework for trade and investment and trade policies and practices by measure and by sector. As such, trade policy review documents are often rich initial sources of information for businesses and investors interested in doing business or investing in a particular economy.  

    Once Trinidad & Tobago submits its replies within a month’s time to any follow up questions raised during the meeting, the Trade Policy Review will have been successfully concluded.

    The documents from Trinidad & Tobago’s latest review may be accessed here. Also visit the website of the Ministry of Trade and Industry for press releases related to the review here.

    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.

  • Barbados and Jamaica join WTO developing country discussions in New Delhi

    Barbados and Jamaica join WTO developing country discussions in New Delhi

    Alicia Nicholls

    Last week, the Caribbean countries of Barbados and Jamaica joined 21 other developing country members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a WTO Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries on May 13-14, 2019. The Informal Ministerial, which was hosted by India, aimed “to discuss recent developments at the WTO and explore ways for working with all Members to strengthen the multilateral trading system”, according to the official press release.

    The presence of not one but two of our Caribbean small States at this meeting was important for two major reasons. Firstly, it shows the Caribbean’s engagement and commitment to safeguarding the rules-based multilateral trading system and to making the region’s voice heard in the WTO reform debate. Secondly, having small States like those in the Caribbean represented brings a small vulnerable economy perspective which is not always represented in WTO reform discussions.

    In the official press release, the participants reiterated their support for the rules-based multilateral trading system and “agree to work together with all WTO Members to strengthen the WTO, make it more effective and continue to remain relevant to the diverse needs of its Members, in line with objectives of the WTO”. Further, they agreed to consult on “various issues of common interest to developing Members, including comprehensive and effective disciplines on fisheries subsidies with appropriate and effective Special & Differential Treatment provisions for developing Members”.

    Special and Differential Treatment

    Special and differential treatment (SD&T) – the term used the describe the flexibilities, rights and privileges to which developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are entitled under the WTO’s agreements – has become an increasingly thorny and polarised issue in the WTO. Developing countries have long criticised the effectiveness of the current S&DT provisions as many are largely best endeavour with little enforceability.

    However, this concern has arguably become overshadowed by the “eligibility” debate. That is, developed countries are increasingly disenchanted with the current eligibility model for S&DT in the WTO which is based on a Member self-designating as a developing country. As such, large emerging economies such as China and India are entitled to the same level of S&DT as small island developing States like Barbados and Fiji.

    Earlier this year, the US submitted a proposal to the WTO General Council which, if successful, would exclude four categories of countries from S&DT, including some Caribbean small States due to the classification as ‘high income’ based on their GNI per capita under the World Bank’s lending classification. This US proposal was quickly rebuffed by a consortium of developing countries in a paper noting the continued relevance of S&DT. However, the US has indicated that it is not backing down from its proposal and reintroduced it at the last WTO General Council meeting.

    It is little surprise, therefore, that the developing countries represented at the New Delhi Informal Ministerial last week strongly reiterated the continued importance of S&DT. They noted that:

    “We recall that international trade is not an end in itself but a means of contributing to certain objectives, including raising standards of living. Special and Differential Treatment is one of the main defining features of the multilateral trading system and is essential to integrating developing Members into global trade. Special and Differential Treatment provisions are rights of developing Members that must be preserved and strengthened in both current and future WTO agreements, with priority attention to outstanding LDC issues.

    They stressed the importance of technical assistance and capacity building provided to developing Members, in particular LDCs, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework, Aid for Trade and other tools.

    They further noted that:

    The process of WTO reform must keep development at its core, promote inclusive growth, and fully take into account the interests and concerns of developing Members, including the specific challenges of graduating LDCs. The way forward must be decided through a process that is open, transparent and inclusive. We agree to work collectively with the aim to develop proposals to ensure that our common interests are reflected in the WTO reform process.

    Support for moving away from ‘consensus model’?

    Decision-making in the WTO is based primarily on consensus – that is, once no Member formally objects. This model of decision-making has been particularly favoured by developing countries because it gets them leverage they ordinarily would not have. However, it has become increasingly criticised and blamed for the deadlock in the WTO’s rule-making function as effectively any one State or group of States can block the adoption of a decision.

    It seems that there is some softening of developing countries’ stance on wholesale retention of the consensus-model. They noted that “multilateral avenues, based on consensus, remain the most effective means to achieve inclusive development-oriented outcomes. Members may need to explore different options to address the challenges of contemporary trade realities in a balanced manner.”

    They further note, however, that “in the post-MC 11 phase, many Members have evinced interest in pursuing outcomes in some areas through joint initiatives approach”, but cautioned that “the outcomes of these initiatives should be conducive to strengthening the multilateral trading system and be consistent with WTO rules”.

    Calls to action/Developing Country Priorities

    The developing countries represented took the opportunity to issue several calls to action and to outline developing country priorities, which have in some cases, been drowned out in the WTO reform debate. As such, they:

    1. Urged WTO Members to engage constructively to address the WTO Appellate Body impasse without any delay in filling the vacancies in the Appellate Body, while continuing discussions on other issues relating to the functioning of the dispute settlement mechanism. 
    2. Urged WTO Members to adopt measures that are compatible with WTO rules to avoid putting the multilateral trading system at risk. 
    3. Called for the Ministerial Conferences of the WTO to be organized in a more open, transparent and inclusive manner.
    4. Noted that WTO notification obligations must consider the capacity constraints and implementation related challenges faced by many developing Members, particularly LDCs.
    5. Called for a more cooperative and gradual approach as the best way in dealing with the issue of transparency, where many developing Members struggle to comply with their notification obligations. 
    6. Highlighted the need to provide adequate policy space to the developing Members to support their farmers through correcting the asymmetries and imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture, on priority. This, they argued, “should be undertaken on the basis of work done and progress already made in the past, and provide further flexibilities to the LDCs and Net Food Importing Developing Countries”.
    7. Strongly noted that “it is really time that cotton receives concrete and appropriate responses it deserves.”

    Besides Barbados and Jamaica, the other countries represented were Arab Republic of Egypt, Central African Republic, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Benin, Republic of Chad, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Malawi, Republic of South Africa, Republic of Uganda and Sultanate of Oman.

    The official press release may be viewed here.

    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.

  • 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.