Caribbean Trade Law and Development

Tag: Caribbean Trade & Development Digest

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – February 17-22, 2020

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – February 17-22, 2020

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of February 17-22, 2020! 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

    Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held their 31st Intersessional Meeting in Barbados February 18-19, 2020. The Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C; MP, chaired the proceedings. The communique from the meeting may be found here.

    To watch the press conference concluding the 31st Intersessional Meeting please see here:

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Barbados unveils one-stop investment guide

    UNCTAD: As Barbados prepares to host the 15th UNCTAD quadrennial conference in October, it has become the latest Caribbean country to launch an online investment guide (iGuide). Read more

    WTO advocate argues Bahamas never to join

    Bahamas Tribune: A prominent World Trade Organisation (WTO) advocate yesterday said he doubts The Bahamas will ever join, adding: “You can lead a horse to water but can’t make it drink”. Read more

    Minister: No Wto Membership ‘For At Least Five Years’

    Bahamas Tribune: A Cabinet minister yesterday said full Bahamian membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) “cannot happen for at least within the next five years”. Read more

    Barbados off EU grey list

    Nation News: Barbados is off the grey list, which means this country is completely cleared and is no longer being seen as a non-cooperative jurisdiction for tax purposes within the global International Business sector. Read more

    CARICOM wants inter-governmental tax body to set standards, rules

    CARICOM: CARICOM Heads of Government have reiterated the call for the creation of an “appropriate intergovernmental tax body with the adequate means and powers to set standards and rules” which support an equitable and universal approach to an international tax governance infrastructure. Read more

    SG posits all-inclusive approach to strengthening CARICOM

    CARICOM: Building a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that is hardened to shocks requires an approach that embraces the talents, skills and resources of all actors of society, CARICOM Secretary-General said recently. Read more

    Fixed roaming rates for CARICOM countries coming soon

    Loop News Barbados: The Barbadian Prime Minister announced that Grenadian Prime Minister, Keith Mitchell and a team from the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) have been working with regional telecommunication operators to implement a fixed roaming rate for CARICOM states. Read more

    T&T, B’dos working together on CSME

    Trinidad Express: BARBADOS and Trinidad and Tobago will be working together to put certain protocols in place to get the wheels of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) moving faster in 2020. Read more

    Castor Oil Sector Banking On $500m Gov’t Investment

    Jamaica Gleaner: Jamaica’s castor oil sector is barely earning from exports, and is seen as woefully underperforming its potential, but its producers are regrouping. Read more

    Consumers and the coronavirus: The implications for Jamaica

    Jamaica Observer: Despite reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week that the number of cases of the deadly novel coronavirus being recorded on a daily basis in China is “stabilising”, concerns expressed by manufacturers and retailers suggest there will be a domino effect to consumers. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    EU budget: Talks end amid stand-off between ‘frugal’ and other nations

    BBC: An EU budget summit ended without agreement on Friday following a stand-off between wealthy “frugal” member states and other countries. Read more

    EU proposes rules for artificial intelligence to limit risk

    AP: The European Union unveiled proposals Wednesday to regulate artificial intelligence that call for strict rules and safeguards on risky applications of the rapidly developing technology. Read more

    Boeing asks lawmakers to suspend preferential tax rate

    Fortune: Washington state lawmakers introduced bills Wednesday, at The Boeing Co.’s request, to suspend the aerospace giant’s preferential business and occupation tax rate unless the United States and European Union reach an agreement on their long-running international trade dispute that would allow the lower tax rate. Read more

    Michel Barnier: UK can’t have Canada trade deal with EU

    BBC: The UK cannot have the same trade deal with the EU as Canada, according to the bloc’s chief negotiator. Read more

    UK unveils ‘iconic,’ blue post-Brexit passports, made by a French-Dutch company in Poland

    CNN: The British government has unveiled the country’s new, blue post-Brexit passports, hailing the return of an “iconic” document that became a thorny issue during the UK’s protracted departure from the European Union. Read more

    UK-EU trade tensions descend into ‘slide war’

    The Guardian: Two sides of negotiations issue flurry of documents through social media. Read more

    Trade Minister inaugurates seven working group to prepare country for AfCFTA

    Ghanaweb: The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, has inaugurated seven Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to spearhead the development of the country’s national programmes of action for Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT). Read more

    Does the Kenya-US free trade deal signal Nigeria’s fall from grace?

    The Africa Report: Nigeria has not managed to convince international investors – including those in the US – that it should be first in line for a post-AGOA deal. Read more

    Indo-US trade deal: The ball is now in Washington’s court

    Economic Times: Trump said his country is “not treated very well by India” but the US is “doing a very big trade deal with India”. Read more

    China to refund US trade war tariffs on some medical devices amid coronavirus outbreak

    South China Morning Post: China said on Friday it would refund tariffs already paid on a list of 55 US-made products including medical devices, engine components and timber products. Read more

    STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

    NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

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

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – February 10-16, 2020

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – February 10-16, 2020

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of February 10-16, 2020! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    The USTR published a report reiterating its past critiques of the now defunct WTO Appellate Body.

    Coming up this week, CARICOM Heads of Government will meet in Barbados February 18-19 for their 31st Inter-sessional Meeting. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who was scheduled to attend, had to cancel at the last minute due to address current infrastructure disruptions.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    European Union, CDB Launch Standby Facility for Capacity Building

    The Voice: The EU and CDB today launched a new round of the Standby Facility for Capacity Building. Read more

    Can the Caribbean end its brain drain?

    The Voice (UK): In recent years, concerns have been growing that the Caribbean region is losing a high percentage of its skilled population. Here, Lyndon Mukasa examines the origins and possible solutions to this exodus of top talent. Read more

    Remittance fees too high in the Caribbean

    Trinidad Express: Remittance fees are too high in the Caribbean, says economist Marla Dukharan. “Remittance fees in the Caribbean are nearly double those of Central America, which is also another heavily dependent region on remittances. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    New ACP-EU Partnership: Moving forward towards a new partnership fit for the future

    Modern Diplomacy: Today, new impetus was given to the post-Cotonou negotiations on a new agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) as the two chief negotiators agreed on the way forward. Read more

    Cambodia: EU Partially Suspends Trade Preferences

    Human Rights Watch: The European Commission on February 12, 2020, announced the partial suspension of Cambodia’s preferential trade preferences with the European Union after the government failed to address serious human rights concerns, Human Rights Watch said today. Read more

    UK to outline post-Brexit trade vision as France warns both sides could ‘rip each other apart

    Euronews: The British government is to outline its vision for a trade deal with the EU in Brussels on Monday, as both sides crank up the rhetoric ahead of the start of formal post-Brexit talks next month. Read more

    UK government spent £500,000 on travel to Brexit negotiations

    The Guardian: Huge bill on travel to and from Brussels reflects Theresa May’s drawn-out approach to negotiations. Read more

    EU Parliament approves EU-Vietnam free trade and investment protection deals

    Europarl: The EU-Vietnam trade agreement, the “most modern and ambitious agreement ever concluded between the EU and a developing country”, got Parliament’s backing on Wednesday. Read more

    Trump: Time to negotiate ‘very seriously’ with EU on trade

    Euractiv: President Donald Trump said Monday (10 February) the time has come to pursue trade negotiations with the European Union which he said imposes “incredible” barriers to US goods. Read more

    Iran-EU Trade Down 71.5%

    Financial Tribune: Iran exported €701.14 million worth of commodities to EU, indicating a 92.59% fall, and imported €4.52 billion in return to register a 49.16% year-on-year decline. Read more

    ‘Pakistan-Turkey Free Trade Agreement talks in April’

    AA: Top Pakistani commerce official says 2 sides agreed to begin long-awaited FTA negotiations in April. Read more

    ‘A reform-or-die moment’: Why world powers want to change the WTO

    CNBC: The United States, Europe and China have clashed over trade policy for several years and tensions could continue for decades without serious reform, experts have told CNBC. Read more

    Explained: What does India’s removal from USTR list of developing countries mean?

    Indian Express: Until February 10, 2020, India was on the USTR’s list of developing countries, making it eligible for preferential treatment against CVD investigations and de minimis thresholds. It will no longer get this benefit. Read more

    Coronavirus Threatens to Blow Up Trump’s Energy Trade Deal With China

    Foreign Policy: The goals were never realistic, but now Beijing has good reason to back away from its purchase commitments to Washington. Read more

    Pompeo in Senegal: Africa caught in US-China trade war

    Al Jazeera: The US is sending mixed messages to the continent, they want to do business, but are not open to all African countries. Read more

    Kenya will be in breach of EAC, AfCFTA rules in proposed trade deal with America

    The East African: Kenya’s proposed free trade deal with the US has put it in the crosshairs as critics say the planned bilateral agreement would be a breach of regional and continental trade protocols. Read more

    STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

    NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

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

  • Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – January 12-18, 2020

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – January 12-18, 2020

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of January 12-18, 2020! 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 was a busy week for trade news. The US-China phase one deal was signed. While it does not address all of the issues affecting US-China trade relations, it attempts a first crack at it. The full text of the Agreement may be accessed here.

    The US is one step closer to ratification of the revised USMCA. The US Senate’s approved revised US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by an overwhelming vote of 89 to 10, and the bill now goes to the President for signature.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    ACP EU CARICOM Workshop Set for Saint Lucia

    The Voice: Regional and international quality professionals from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the European Union (EU) will gather in Saint Lucia next week as three days of discussions and training focussed on strengthening regional trade, get underway at the Coco Palm Resort, Rodney Bay, Castries. Read more

    Trade between Cuba and Russia grows in 2019

    On Cuba News: In 2019, commercial exchange between Cuba and Russia exceeded 500 million dollars, Cuban ambassador in Moscow Gerardo Peñalver Portal said to Sputnik. Read more

    TT moves to improve cross-border trade

    Newsday: A new port technology platform will help to improve this country’s trading across borders, said Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon. Read more

    Paula pushes pan grant

    Newsday: Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon told Newsday she was very pleased at Friday’s talks with Pan Trinbago president Beverly Ramsey-Moore and University of Trinidad and Tobago governor Prof Clem Imbert to promote her ministry’s new $5 million grant-facility to make steel pans. Read more

    TT Chamber CEO praises non-energy export growth

    Newsday: Chamber of Industry and Commerce CEO Gabriel Faria said the chamber is pleased with growth in non-energy exports. “This shows the benefit collaboration can bring,” he said. Read more

    UK and TT strengthen trade ties

    Newsday: British High Commissioner Tim Stew has urged local companies to engage with the UK companies which were brought in by the Department for International Trade (DIT) for the UK Defence and Security Trade Mission. Read more

    Rum-makers report rising sales

    Barbados Today: One of Barbados’ main rum producers is reporting a major turn around in its export business, which climbed over 80 per cent in the last three years. Read more

    Local Manufacturers Welcome Article 164 Implementation

    The Voice: Many St Lucians may be unaware of the January 1, 2020 implementation of Article 164 of the RTC. Read more

    Jamaica import bill rises by 6.5% in the first nine months of 2019

    Jamaica Observer: Jamaica’s imports for January to September 2019 were valued at US$4,816.5 million, an increase of 6.5 per cent when compared to US$4,520.4 million which was spent for the similar period in 2018 according to the International Merchandise Trade (IMT) Bulletin released recently by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). Read more

    Imports from the OECS, Haiti and Belize to attract zero percent tariff rate

    St Lucia News Online: A decision by CARICOM is set to benefit less developed countries (LDCs) of CARICOM including Saint Lucia. Read more

    Solving Jamaica’s Export Challenges

    Jamaica Gleaner: The export of Jamaican goods and services has long been recommended as the pillar on which the country can drive real and consistent growth while positively impacting many of Jamaica’s socio-economic challenges. Read more

    JMEA expresses concerns after release of import-export figures

    Jamaica Observer: Following the issuing of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) report on the state of the country’s imports and exports situation for the period January to September 2019, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) has expressed its concerns at the figures. Read more

    Guatemala asks OAS to facilitate meeting with Government of Belize

    Breaking Belize News: Guаtеmаlаn mеdіа, Аgеnсіа Guаtеmаltеса dе Nоtісіаѕ rероrtеd thаt Guаtеmаlаn Рrеѕіdеnt, Аlејаndrо Gіаmmеttі hаѕ аѕkеd thе Оrgаnіzаtіоn оf Аmеrісаn Ѕtаtеѕ (ОАЅ) tо fасіlіtаtе а mееtіng wіth thе Gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе.Ассоrdіng tо thе rероrt, thе mееtіng wіll bе tо рrоmоtе іntеrасtіоn аnd gооd rеlаtіоnѕ wіth Веlіzе іn оrdеr tо tаkе аdvаntаgе оf орроrtunіtіеѕ іn trаdе аnd tоurіѕm, аmоng оthеrѕ. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Senate OKs North American Trade Deal To Replace NAFTA, Giving Trump A Much-Needed Win

    NPR: The Senate overwhelmingly approved a revised North American trade pact in a rare bipartisan vote Thursday that hands President Trump a victory on a key campaign promise just as lawmakers are preparing his impeachment trial. Read more

    U.S., EU, Japan agree new subsidy rules with China trade in focus

    Reuters: The United States, the European Union and Japan proposed new global trade rules on Tuesday to curb subsidies they say are distorting the worldwide economy, with China their clear target. Read more

    Mercosur braces for change amid calls for new trade rules

    Buenos Aires Times: Regional trade bloc faces uncertain future, with Argentina now in the minority and Uruguay and Brazil seeking the right to secure trade deals outside the bloc’s remit. Read more

    Mercosur summit in Paraguay will address a review of the external tariff

    Mercopress: The upcoming Summit of Heads of State of the Southern Common Market Mercosur, to be held in late June or early July this year, will be held in Encarnacion, capital of Itapúa Department, Paraguay. Read more

    With Brexit imminent, what are the chances of a UK trade deal with China?

    The Guardian: Last week, Donald Trump and Liu He, the Chinese vice-premier, signed phase one of a new trade arrangement between the US and China. The talks surrounding the agreement have been tortuous, leading to fears that the world could be caught up in a trade conflict between these two economic giants. Read more

    Trade Peace May Hurt Countries Left Out of U.S.-China Deal

    Bloomberg: President Donald Trump is set to sign his phase one trade accord with China on Wednesday and the public will finally get its first chance to look beneath the hood. A key question for other nations: How will China’s commitment to buy $200 billion worth of additional American goods and services impact their access to the world’s biggest economies? Read more

    Trade centers in regional countries to spur non-oil exports

    Tehran Times: To expand non-oil exports during the sanctions time, Iranian economic and trade organizations have been defining some strategies and resolved to pursue them vigorously. Read more

    Europe to assess whether US-China deal is WTO compatible

    Euractiv: The EU will assess whether a US-China deal to roll back some bilateral tariffs in exchange for increased US imports to China is compatible with World Trade Organisation rules, said Trade commissioner Phil Hogan on Thursday (16 January). Read more

    US-China trade rapprochement round one

    East Asia Forum: The conclusion of phase one of the trade negotiations between the United States and China has been welcomed by global markets because it has brushed off many uncertainties caused by the tense relationship between the world’s two largest economies over the past two years. Read more

    Brexit trade deals on the table at UK-Africa summit

    African Business Magazine: Organised by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), in partnership with Department of Trade (DIT), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (FCO) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the one-day summit and side events are designed to seal UK-African business deals as the UK prepares to formally leave the European Union (EU) on 31 January. Read more

    UK channels aid budget as it seeks closer ties with Africa post-Brexit

    The Guardian: Britain has unveiled plans to channel part of the £14bn aid budget through the City as it seeks to exploit the global reach of the finance sector to boost investment in Africa. Read more

    BRICS: What’s in it for Africa?

    Africa.com: The BRICS group of emerging economies (made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) gather at the 5th annual BRICS summit in Durban, South Africa. It is the first time the summit is being held in Africa – and rightly so – as the theme for this year is BRICS and AFRICA: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation. State leaders of the five countries will be among at least 5,000 delegates at the two-day summit. Read more

    China’s trade with Africa grows 2.2 per cent in 2019 to US$208 billion

    South China Morning Post: Two-way trade grew by just 2.2 per cent in 2019 to US$208.7 billion, compared with a 20 per cent rise a year earlier, according to official figures from China’s General Administration of Customs. Read more

    Investment will overshadow trade in Japan-U.S. talks

    Japan Times: The Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement (JUSTA), the pinnacle for modern trade policy between the two allies, is now in force. Read more

    US tariffs on autos not mentioned in talks, EU trade chief says

    Deutsche Welle: In Washington to smooth out trade differences with the Trump administration, an EU commissioner said the subject of car tariffs did not come up. German carmakers will be happy to see the issue off the negotiating table. Read more

    UK treasury chief: Some businesses may hurt after Brexit

    The Associated Press: The British government has announced plans for special events on the night of Jan. 31 when the country officially leaves the European Union but the country’s treasury chief has admitted that some U.K. business sectors will suffer as a result. Read more

    U.K. Economy Won’t Stay Close to EU After Brexit, Javid Says

    Bloomberg: U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid signaled Britain is planning to shift its economy further away from the European Union’s, firing an early salvo in what’s set to be a fractious year in hammering out their future relationship. Read more

    Asean, RCEP trade partners unlikely beneficiaries from US-China trade war, Deloitte economist says

    South China Morning Post: An unexpected effect of the US-China trade war has been an apparent acceleration of the process to forge an Asian trading bloc that does not include United States, according to Deloitte China’s chief economist Xu Sitao. Read more

    India’s ‘door still open’ to RCEP free-trade deal: Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar

    South China Morning Post: More than two months after India pulled out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has suggested New Delhi could rethink its decision. Read more

    STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

    NEW ON THE CTLD BLOG

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

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – December 9-14, 2019 – Christmas Edition

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – December 9-14, 2019 – Christmas Edition

    Welcome to our final Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the year 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 week of December 9-14, 2019! We do hope that you have enjoyed our Digests over the past year!

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    Several major trade developments happened this week. It is quite a mouthful so let us go one by one, starting with the bad and ending with the good:

    The bad

    One sad development is that as of December 11, the WTO’s Appellate Body no longer has the quorum required to hear new appeals to panel decisions. It was later reported that the two outgoing Appellate Body members will stay on temporarily to complete some existing appeals. Read more here.

    The WTO Director-General’s annual report to the TPRB of trade-related developments shows that between mid-October 2018 and mid-October 2019, the trade coverage of import-restrictive measures implemented by members was estimated at USD 747 billion – the highest trade coverage recorded since October 2012. Read the full news item here.

    On the COP25, the climate talks have ended with a compromise. Read here

    The good

    Some good news is that the WTO’s General Council at its last meeting for the year has approved the WTO’s budget for 2020 and extended two important moratoria related to customs duties on electronic transmissions and the initiation of “non-violation” complaints under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Read more here.

    Additionally, the Trump Administration finally struck a deal with congressional Democrats on changes to the USMCA – the agreement to replace NAFTA. This should hopefully clear the path for US domestic ratification of the deal which was originally signed in November 2018 and whose amended version was signed by the three countries this week. Read the Protocol of Amendment here.

    The 9th ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government was held this week in Nairobi, Kenya from December 9-10. The ACP has been renamed the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

    Turning to Brexit, the British electorate has given the ruling Conservative Party a decisive win. Does this mean a clear path forward now for Brexit? Maybe or maybe not. Read my commentary on it here!

    On the US-China trade war front, the US and China have announced completion of a ‘phase one’ trade deal. As such, the anticipated December 15, US tariffs on Chinese goods have not been implemented.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    CARICOM countries to benefit from global e-mobility programme

    Dominica News Online: Three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are to benefit from a new Global Environment Facility (GEF) global e-mobility programme that has been launched at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25). Read more

    UWI Strengthening Canada-Caribbean Relations

    UWI: Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles is pleased to announce that the proposal for the establishment of the Canada-Caribbean Institute (CCI) was approved at a meeting of the University Finance and General Purposes Committee UFGPC) on October 30, 2019. Read more

    Barbados ‘may seek WTO ease’ on milling competition

    Barbados Today: Competition is heating up among the regional flour mills, threatening the milling industry in Barbados and the wider region, the industry and commerce minister said today, suggesting that Barbados ought to appeal to global trade arbiter for protection against extra-regional suppliers. Read more

    WTO: Are we in or out?

    EyeWitness News: The country’s World Trade Organization (WTO) accession has effectively come to a standstill, the nation’s chief negotiator has confirmed. Read more

    Social Media ‘Untruths’ Impact Bid To Join Wto

    The Tribune: The Bahamas’ bid to attain full World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership has been made harder by the spread of untruths on social media, the Government’s top negotiator has argued. Read more

    Wto: Bahamas May Have To Open Reserved Industries

    The Tribune: The Bahamas may have to open some of the 16 industries reserved solely for local ownership to foreign competition in becoming a full WTO member, the government’s top negotiator is warning. Read more

    Bahamas must flip approach to WTO

    The Tribune: The Bahamas should go “full steam ahead” in pursuing World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership through a private sector-driven approach that improves competitiveness, an attorney is arguing. Read more

    Belarus and Barbados establish diplomatic ties

    Belarus News: Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN Valentin Rybakov and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN Henrietta Elizabeth Thompson signed a joint communique to establish diplomatic relations between the countries, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more

    Action Being Taken To Make The Export Of Goods And Services Easier

    JIS: State Minister for Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Government is working to make the export of local goods and services easier, by reducing the associated costs and processes. Read more

    South Holland Council is working on trading links with Jamaica

    Spalding Today: Officials have been forging closer relationships for trading produce between South Holland and Jamaica. Read more

    AMCHAM Jamaica signs MoU with US Embassy

    Jamaica Observer: United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Donald Tapia today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM Jamaica) cementing the business relationship between the two organisations. Read more

    CARICOM and AFRICA – The Ties That Bind

    New York CaribNews: We are pleased to see the furtherance of collaboration between Africa takes another step with the opening of a CARICOM Office in Nairobi, Kenya. The Pan African movement of decades ago promoted the cultural heritage and historic ties and one that should also involve economic development. Read more

    Jampro Eyes Threefold Export Sales Growth For Max III Companies

    Jamaica Gleaner: Jampro president Diane Edwards is ­expecting the third cohort of companies selected for the Export Max programme to triple their export sales through their participation in the initiative. Read more

    Africa to open air and sea for trade with Caribbean and Pacific

    Star: The ninth African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) ended in Nairobi on Tuesday, with 79 countries pledging to promote inter Africa trade against unfair global trade practices. Read more

    79-member ACP now Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

    Jamaica Observer: The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group yesterday ended a two-day summit here, agreeing to rename the 45-year-old organisation as the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    WTO chief: ‘Months’ needed to fix disputes body

    BBC: Director General of the World Trade Organisation Roberto Azevedo says it will take “a few months” to fix its main body for settling trade disputes. Read more

    What’s in the U.S.-China ‘phase one’ trade deal

    Reuters: The United States and China have agreed on the terms of a “phase one” trade deal that reduces some U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods while boosting Chinese purchases of American farm, energy and manufactured goods and addressing some U.S. complaints about intellectual property practices. Read more

    US, Mexico, Canada sign USMCA trade deal

    DW: Canada, Mexico and the United States have reached an agreement on a revised North American free trade pact. The deal, seen as a replacement for the 25-year-old NAFTA, is the result of more than two years of wrangling. Read more

    New North America Trade Deal Seen as Template for Deals to Come

    WSJ: USMCA’s provisions could find their way into other trade deals, based on Trump administration’s reworking of Nafta. Read more

    Evaluating the new USMCA

    CATO: Read the analysis from CATO Institute on the new USMCA. Read more

    ACP renamed as the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

    Papua New Guinea Today: The 9th Summit of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Head of States and Government Tuesday approved the renaming of the group to be now called the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). Read more

    UK must be loyal on standards in return for market access – Macron

    The Guardian: Emmanuel Macron has warned Boris Johnson that the UK must remain “loyal” to EU standards post-Brexit for British companies to maintain access to the European market. Read more

    Sturgeon: Scotland wants different future from rest of UK

    BBC: SNP leader says election results made clear Scottish voters don’t want a Boris Johnson government or Brexit. Read more

    Michael Gove promises Brexit trade deal with EU by end of 2020

    Guardian: Minister says transitional arrangements will definitely stop on 31 December next year. Read more

    Election results 2019: Five big things on Boris Johnson’s to-do list

    BBC: With a substantial majority in Parliament, Boris Johnson can push ahead with his plans, confident that MPs will back them. So, what’s in the prime minister’s in-tray as he returns to work in Downing Street? Read more

    Brexit and EU trade deal are Boris Johnson’s priorities, says Michael Gove

    EU Today: The top priority of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government is to leave the European Union on January 31st, and to secure a new trade deal with the EU by the end of next year, cabinet office minister Michael Gove, who is likely to be the UK’s lead trade negotiator with the EU, said on Sunday. Read more

    Europe reacts: Time frame for post-Brexit trade deal ‘is challenging’, says EU chief

    Euronews: The European Union have welcomed Boris Johnson’s thumping general election victory, calling for the Brexit deal to be ratified as soon as possible with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressing that “the time frame ahead of us is very challenging”. Read more

    Australian trade to be a winner in post-Brexit world, Brandis says

    The Sydney Morning Herald: Australia’s top envoy in London says political obstacles in the path of a massive free-trade agreement between Boris Johnson and Donald Trump leave Prime Minister Scott Morrison as the frontrunner to strike the world’s first post-Brexit economic deal with the United Kingdom. Read more

    ACP summit ends with adoption of resolutions to boost multilateralism

    XInhua: The ninth summit of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) heads of state and government ended in Nairobi on Tuesday with the adoption of resolutions to promote a rules-based international order. Read more

    WTO Appeals Judges to Stay On to Complete Several Decisions-WTO Official

    NY Times: World Trade Organization (WTO) judges will complete decisions on three pending appeals for which hearings have been held – despite the collapse of the Appellate Body earlier this week – a WTO official said on Thursday. Read more

    Experts call for integrating digital economy with AfCFTA to spur Africa’s development

    News Ghana: African experts and policymakers on Thursday called for integrating the digital economy with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) so as to harness potentials of the continental free trade pact. Read more

    Experts meet to validate African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Index

    Business Ghana: The aim of the index is to provide an assessment of the extent to which businesses across Africa find trading across borders in Africa challenging, and to identify the main barriers to trade. Read more

    Cut red tape to boost trade, Uhuru urges Africa, Caribbean, Pacific states

    Business Today: President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for improvement of regulatory and institutional frameworks to promote faster economic growth among developing countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Read more

    The African Continental Free Trade Area Could Boost African Agency in International Trade

    Chatham House: The agreement, which entered into force in May, could be a major step for Africa’s role in international trade, if the continent can overcome barriers to implementation. Read more

    Uhuru seeks to review skewed EU trade agreements

    Nation: President Uhuru Kenyatta has termed current trade agreements with the European Union as largely imbalanced. Read more

    STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO

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