Caribbean Trade Law and Development

Tag: Caribbean Trade & Development Digest

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – July 7 – 13, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – July 7 – 13, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of July 7-13, 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

    In this week’s headlines, fifteen countries in the West African regional bloc ECOWAS have agreed to adopt a single currency called the ECO next year. Regionally, Jamaica aims to deepen its trade and other bilateral relations with the Cayman Islands, while Barbados has its eye on investment opportunities in Guyana.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Jamaica – Cayman Islands to strengthen trade, bilateral relations

    Caribbean News Now: Jamaica is moving to improve trade relations with the Cayman Islands, prime minister Andrew Holness said speaking to the Jamaican diaspora in the Cayman. Read more

    WTO ‘devastating’ for farmers and fisheries

    Tribune 242: Becoming a full World Trade Organisation (WTO) member will be “devastating” for Bahamian farmers because they are “not prepared” for the competitive demands of liberalised trade regimes. Caron Shepherd, president of the Farmers United Cooperative, told Tribune Business. Read more

    Barbados seeking to encourage investments in Guyana

    Jamaica Observer: The Barbados Government is seeking to lure local investors to invest in Guyana, which is the world’s second-largest stock market, NASDAQ last month named as the fastest growing economy in the world. Read more

    Investment potential in Guyana

    Barbados Today: Investment opportunities in Guyana worth millions of dollars appear to have captured the attention of dozens of workers and entrepreneurs eager to tap into its growing market. Read more

    Antigua PM Reports Positive Talks On Ownership In Scotiabank Country Branch

    Jamaica Gleaner: The Antigua & Barbuda government is reporting positive feedback to a proposal that would allow it to own at least 40 per cent of the local Scotiabank operation, under a regional transaction in which the Canadian owner is offloading some of its Caribbean assets to Republic Financial Holdings Limited. Read more

    Antigua – Barbuda and the Dominican Republic forge closer relations: Embassy to break ground soon

    Caribbean News Now: Prime Minister Gaston Browne fulfilled a promise made three years ago to the president of the Dominican Republic to transfer one acre of land for the construction of an embassy and residences for the Dominican Republic in St John’s, presented the land certificate to foreign affairs minister of the Dominican Republic, Chancellor Miguel Vargas who paid an official visit to Antigua and Barbuda over the weekend. Read more

    Statistical Capacity-Building Underway in CARICOM Member States

    CARICOM: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has embarked on a series of exercises across the Region as it steps up its efforts to build capacity in statistics. The Community is working towards providing robust, quality statistics to inform and advance its development thrust. Read more

    Caribbean Countries to Benefit from Access to Insurance for the Fisheries Sector

    OECS: CCRIF SPC and the World Bank are pleased to announce that on July 1, the Facility issued the Caribbean Oceans and Aquaculture Sustainability FaciliTy (COAST) fisheries parametric insurance policy to two of its member governments – Grenada and Saint Lucia. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    ECOWAS West African nations to adopt unified ‘eco’ currency

    IOL: The Economic Community of West African States announced at the end of its summit in Abuja, Nigeria, that it would be adopting the ECO as its shared currency by 2020. Read more

    France passes tax on tech giants despite US threats

    BBC: France has approved a digital services tax despite threats of retaliation by the US, which argues that it unfairly targets American tech giants. The 3% tax will be levied on sales generated in France by multinational firms like Google and Facebook. Read more

    Trump-China Trade Tensions Hit Panama Canal Revenues

    Bloomberg: Cargo from the U.S. to China going through the key waterway has slumped this year as the Asian giant cuts its imports of American food and fuel, according to Panama Canal Authority CEO Jorge Luis Quijano. Read more

    Beijing to impose sanctions on US firms involved in US$2.2 billion Taiwan arms deal

    South China Morning Post: Beijing said on Friday it will issue sanctions against the US companies involved in the latest arms sale to Taiwan, as tensions between China and the United States continue to rise. Read more

    US tells Britain: Fall into line over China and Huawei, or no trade deal

    Telegraph: Donald Trump’s negotiators have signalled that the next prime minister’s hopes of a post-Brexit trade deal with the United States rest on his willingness to fall in line with tough American policies against the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. Read more

    EU-Mercosur trade agreement: The Agreement in Principle and its texts

    EU: In view of the Commission’s transparency policy, the Commission is publishing the texts of the Trade Part of the Agreement following the agreement in principle announced on 28 June 2019. Read more

    Nigeria signs Africa free trade agreement: statement

    Reuters: Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has signed up to the $3 trillion Africa free trade agreement, a spokesman confirmed on Sunday. Read more

    African Leaders Launch First Continental Trade Agreement

    VoA: Leaders discussed “operational” parts of the agreement at a recent gathering of the African Union in Niger. The deal had been under discussion since 2002 and a general agreement to form the trade area was reached in March. Read more

    Canada posts rare trade surplus as exports to U.S. hit record high

    Financial Post: Canada’s trade balance unexpectedly swung into surplus for the first time in 10 months on a broad-based jump in exports, adding to evidence the economy has returned to a more solid footing. Read more

    Germany Sees 50% Chance for EU-U.S. Trade Deal, Possibly in 2019

    Bloomberg: German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier sees a 50% chance of the European Union striking a trade agreement on industrial goods with the U.S., possibly this year. Read more

    A Deeper Look at Vietnam’s Trade Deal With Europe

    The Diplomat: The EU’s drive to become the defender of multilateralism promises further opportunities for Southeast Asia. Read more

    What is GATT 24: What is the WTO clause at the centre of Andrew Neil’s grilling of Boris Johnson

    Independent: Boris Johnson was taken to task by the BBC’s Andrew Neil over his knowledge of GA​TT 24 – the clause in WTO rules he believes could allow the UK to continue to trade freely with the EU in a no deal scenario. Read more

    Australia steps up sugar trade fight with India, moves WTO

    Hindu Business Line: Australia has intensified its sugar related dispute with India by formally asking World Trade Organisation (WTO) to set up a panel to probe if the world’s second-largest sugar producer was breaching its obligations, a media report said Friday. Read more

    Japan denies imposing South Korean trade embargo at WTO

    Reuters: Japan denied imposing a trade embargo on South Korea on Tuesday, after a complicated diplomatic dispute that could disrupt global supplies of chips and smartphones erupted over forced labor in World War Two and banned trade with North Korea. Read more

    Global trade: Making a start for WTO reforms

    Financial Express: Members desirous of preventing disruption of the appellate process in WTO disputes would enter into a plurilateral accord providing for appeal arbitration. Read more

    Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan for businesses dismissed by head of WTO

    Independent: The head of the World Trade Organisation has blown a hole in Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans as Conservative members vote on whether he should become party leader and prime minister. Read more

    Brazil escalates WTO dispute over India sugar subsidies that distort global sugar markets

    Business Today: The Brazilian government said on Thursday it had asked the World Trade Organization to establish a panel aimed at resolving its dispute over Indian sugar subsidies, according to a joint statement by the foreign and agriculture ministries. Read more

    India involved in 14 disputes at WTO currently, says Piyush Goyal

    Business Standard: At present, India is involved in 14 WTO disputes, all of which are being handled by domestic law firms. Read more

    USTR Announces Fiscal Year 2020 WTO Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar, Refined and Specialty Sugar and Sugar-Containing Products

    USTR: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative today announced the country-specific and first-come, first-served in-quota allocations under the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on imported raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar and sugar-containing products for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 (October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020). Read more

    USTR Announces Initiation of Section 301 Investigation into France’s Digital Services Tax

    USTR: On July 10, 2019, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) initiated an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 of the Digital Services Tax (DST) of the Government of France. Read more

    WTO NEWS

    NEW ON CTLD BLOG

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

  • Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – June 30 – July 6, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – June 30 – July 6, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of June 30-July 6, 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

    CARICOM Heads of Government held their 40th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government (HoG) at Gros Islet, Saint Lucia 3-5, July 2019 under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Honourable Allen Chastanet. Read the communique here.

    UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addressed the Opening Ceremony of the CARICOM HoG Meeting and his speech may be viewed here.

    Ghana has been selected to host the AfCFTA Secretariat.

    The Global Aid for Trade Report 2019 was launched this week. The full report may be read online here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Strengthening ties

    Barbados Today: The Barbados Government was looking to broaden and deepen trade in the region and Prime Minister Mottley was particularly interested in pursuing relationships with Guyana, which was expected to experience growth from the development of its oil and gas industry. Read more

    Sustainable Trade: OECS signs € 3.6 million project to develop trade capacity in the region

    OECS: Stronger trade expertise and the creation of a harmonised trade information and facilitation platform in OECS Member States are key areas earmarked for development under the 3.6 million euro, EU/ACP-funded TradeCom II Agreement signed by OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules in Geneva, Switzerland today. Read more

    Regional countries seeking support for dealing with climate change impact

    Jamaica Observer: Caribbean countries have welcomed an initiative by the SIDS Resilience Foundation and Project Lodge designed to mobilise financing to build resilience, St Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has said. Read more

    Resilience We Seek To Build Must Be Built Within CSME – CARICOM SG

    CARICOM: The 40th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, opened on Wednesday evening under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia, at the Royalton St Lucia Resort, with strong calls to strengthen regional integration mechanisms. Read more

    SVG assumes Chairmanship of CARIFORUM for one year

    Searchlight: St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has assumed its role of Chair of the Caribbean Forum of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (CARIFORUM) for a one-year period. Read more

    Jamaican companies seek export opportunities in Trinidad

    LoopJamaica: Seven Jamaican companies are currently exploring export opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago on an export mission being led by JAMPRO and the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA). Read more

    JAMPRO Coordinating Activities to Boost Exports

    JIS: Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) has been coordinating various marketing and investment activities aimed at boosting the range of export markets for local products. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Aid for Trade Review opens with call to preserve trading system as driver for development

    Hellenic Shipping News: The seventh Global Review of Aid for Trade opened at the World Trade Organization on 3 July with a call for preserving the multilateral trading system in order to support trade as a driver of economic growth and development. Read more

    African Leaders Meet to Push Forward Free-Trade Deal

    VoA: Officials are gathering in Niger’s capital this weekend for an African Union summit that begins the “operational phase” of a long-sought continental free trade zone. Read more

    Ghana selected to host AfCFTA secretariat

    CGTN: Ghana was on Saturday selected as the country to host the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Read more

    African Union to launch operational phase of AfCFTA in Niger

    CGTN: The African Union said on Thursday that it will launch the operational phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on July 7 in Niamey, Niger. Read more

    Hopes dim for passage of Trump trade deal

    The Hill: House Democrats say there’s little to no chance that Congress will take up President Trump’s replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) before the end of summer. Read more

    Mexico and U.S. try new trade fix to win over Democrats: official

    Reuters: Mexico is working closely with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to close a loophole in the new North American trade deal, aimed at satisfying demands of U.S. Democratic lawmakers for tougher labor and environmental provisions, a senior Mexican official said. Read more

    Cheese and whiskey are targeted in US’s latest proposed tariffs on EU

    Vox: The US wants to add new tariffs on $4 billion in goods as part of a trade dispute involving Boeing and Airbus. Read more

    US drags India to WTO for imposing additional tariffs on 28 goods

    Business Line: The US claims that the additional duties, which India imposed through a series of notifications issued between June 2018 and June 2019, are inconsistent with provisions of the WTO’s General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade by unfairly discriminating against US imports vis-à-vis those from other WTO members and by according less favourable treatment to US goods than that provided for in India’s schedule of concessions,” according to an official release. Read more

    U.S. and 15 others slam EU regulation of farm products at WTO

    Reuters: The United States and 15 other countries launched a broadside of criticism at the European Union on Thursday, saying its “hazard-based” approach to regulating pesticides and other “critical tools” used by farmers was damaging livelihoods worldwide. Read more

    China is not the only trading partner targeted by US President Donald Trump’s trade wars

    ABC (Australia): The US-China trade war has been dominating headlines, but Beijing is not the only trading partner in President Donald Trump’s crosshairs. Read more

    Talks ongoing for Pacific Alliance-Singapore free trade agreement

    Business Times: Negotiations on the Pacific Alliance-Singapore free trade agreement (FTA) are underway, involving a grouping of four countries – Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru – which Singapore traded $5.9 billion in goods with last year. Read more

    WTO NEWS

    NEW ON CTLD BLOG

    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 subscribe to our Blog below:

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – June 23-29, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – June 23-29, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of June 23-29, 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 TRADE HIGHLIGHTS

    The EU and Mercosur have reached a trade deal. Read the EU’s press release here.

    G20 leaders met in Osaka, Japan and among other things, have affirmed their commitment to WTO reform. The full G20 statement may be read here.

    Barbados and UAE will co-chair UNCTAD’s 15th Quadrennial in October 2020. Read more here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    C’bean leaders to further discuss CSME at summit

    Jamaica Observer: Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders will meet here early next week with the implementation of measures to enhance the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) high on the agenda. Read more

    Caricom heads to meet in July

    Newsday: The 40th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) will be held in St Lucia from July 3-5. Read more

    Barbados to host UNCTAD Conference

    Nation News: Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced today the island would host the 15th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) quadrennial meeting in October next year. Read more

    Imports up 1.9% in May 2019

    Amandala: The Statistics Institute of Belize (SIB) reported that Belize imported $169.4 million worth of goods in May 2019, a 1.9% increase over goods imported last year in the same period. Read more

    Guyana listed as world’s fastest growing economy

    Jamaica Observer: The world’s second largest stock market NASDAQ, has named Guyana as the fastest growing economy in the world. Read more

    Regional rum producers promoting responsible drinking

    Jamaica Observer: The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers’ Association (WIRSPA) has ended a meeting here discussing how to promote responsible drinking and to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. Read more

    Jamaica Imports and exports rising

    Jamaica Observer: The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin) is reporting in its quarterly report that for the period January to March 2019, Jamaica’s imports were valued at US$1.66 billion — a 13.1 per cent increase when compared to the corresponding period for 2018 with a value of US$1.47 billion. Read more

    Antigua PM willing to create team to sensitise correspondent banks about CIP

    Antigua Observer: In an effort to sensitise correspondent banks on the integrity and security of the Citizenship by Investment Programme’s (CIP’s) application and approval process, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, in his capacity as OECS Chair, said that he is willing to assemble a team of government officials, CIP executives, Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism experts and banks to hold joint meetings. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    G-20 leaders agree to speed up WTO reforms

    Nikkei Asian Review: The Group of 20 leaders ended a summit dominated by the U.S.-China trade war with a commitment to accelerating efforts to reform the World Trade Organization. Read more

    India wins solar case against US at WTO

    Livemint: India on Thursday won a major trade dispute against the US at the World Trade Organization, with a dispute settlement panel pronouncing that subsidies and mandatory local content requirements instituted by eight American states breached global trade rules. Read more

    Nigeria: Finally, Nigeria to Sign African Continental Free Trade Agreement

    AllAfrica: Following the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which submitted its report to President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, Nigeria will sign the agreement, with conditions authoritative presidency sources have told THISDAY. Read more

    All set for Horn of Africa trade forum focusing on region’s pharmaceutical industry

    Africanews: All is set for the two-day regional trade forum for the Horn of Africa focusing on the implementation of the historic African Continental Free Trade Agreement that went into force on 30 May. Read more

    Dairy imports off to a slow start in Pacific Rim trade deal

    CBC: As dairy, egg and poultry farmers wait for the Liberal government to explain the details of a $3.9 billion compensation package promised in this spring’s federal budget, a serious threat from imports under the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has yet to emerge. Read more

    UK seeks new no-deal Brexit freight plan

    BBC: Transport companies are being asked to bid to provide extra freight capacity to be used in the event of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. The hurried ferry procurement process as the UK prepared to leave the EU on 29 March cost taxpayers more than £85m. Read more

    Canada and Mexico may be open to tweaking USMCA: U.S. Democrat

    Reuters: Canada and Mexico may be open to a limited renegotiation of aspects of the United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement to satisfy U.S. lawmakers’ concerns, a top U.S. Democrat said on Wednesday, opening the door to its passage in the fall. Read more

    EU signs free trade agreement with Vietnam

    Deutsche Welle: The European Union has signed a landmark free trade deal with Vietnam. With concerns from some lawmakers about the country’s human rights record, the agreement needs approval from the European Parliament. Read more

    U.S. will sanction any countries that import Iranian oil: special envoy

    Reuters: The United States will sanction any country that imports Iranian oil and there are no exemptions in place, the U.S. special envoy for Iran said on Friday. Read more

    G20 summit: Trump and Xi agree to restart US-China trade talks

    BBC: The US and China have agreed to resume trade talks, easing a long row that has contributed to a global economic slowdown. US President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping reached agreement at the G20 summit in Japan. Read more

    EU to provide 40 billion euros in grants to help create jobs in Africa

    Africanews: The European Union Commission fully supports the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and is proposing a 40 billion Euro package to attract investments that would create at least 10 million jobs in Africa. Read more

    Trump Says He’ll Allow China’s Huawei to Buy From U.S. Suppliers

    Bloomberg: President Donald Trump said he’ll allow Huawei Technologies Co. to buy products from U.S. suppliers, in a concession to China after talks with the country’s President Xi Jinping on Saturday. Read more

    Farmers welcome trade truce, hope for more

    WSJ: Farmers and agricultural groups welcomed the U.S.-China trade truce but many said they still need a comprehensive agreement to restore large-scale exports of U.S. crops and meat and lift the fragile farm economy. Read more

    WTO NEWS

    NEW ON CTLD BLOG

    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 subscribe to our Blog below:

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – June 16-22, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – June 16-22, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of June 16-22, 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 TRADE HIGHLIGHTS

    The US and China announced they have resumed trade talks. Mexico became the first of the three parties to ratify the USMCA. ASEAN is holding its two-day summit (June 22-23, 2019) in Bangkok, Thailand. EU leaders fail to agree top job candidates in Brussels talks. A new summit will now be held on 30 June.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Africa-Caribbean Trade: What are the prospects?

    Barbados Today: President Akufo-Addo’s visit presents an opportune occasion to consider the prospects for deepening Caribbean-African trade and economic ties, particularly in light of the recent entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which will transform 52 out of 55 African countries into the world’s largest free trade area. Read more

    New system to make it easier to do business

    Barbados Today: Within the next six months the Barbados Electronic Single Window (BESW) should be up and running. That is according to Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce Dwight Sutherland, who has said the initiative will reduce the cost of doing business on the island. Read more

    Trade Facilitation Efforts To Bring Ease

    GIS: The national consultation on trade facilitation is expected to be the catalyst for bringing about an expansion of domestic exports, new investment flows and stronger economic growth in Barbados. Read more

    Fisheries Ministers underscore need for urgent response to Sargassum scourge and IUU fishing

    CRFM: Caribbean Fisheries Ministers who met for two days last week in Saint Kitts and Nevis have underscored the need for the region to take urgent action to address the ongoing Sargassum scourge, as well as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing—two of the most pressing challenges responsible for multimillion-dollar losses to the regional economy. Read more

    Bahamian Deputy Prime Minister Hails 42% Rise In Fdi Equity Inflows

    Tribune242: The deputy prime minister yesterday hailed a 42 percent year-over-year increase in foreign investors’ equity investments as confirmation that “The Bahamas’ economic turnaround has begun”. Read more

    OECS Director-General formulates groundwork

    Caribbean News Now: Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr Didacus Jules, speaking at the opening ceremony of the 67th meeting In Antigua and Barbuda stated that, “More than ever before diplomacy matters and the outreach to non-traditional partners that we have started in the thrust to Africa, the strengthening of our diplomatic coordination in the entire European theatre and the heightening of our battles against economic dictation, arbitrary blacklisting and de-risking will be intensified” under the chairmanship of prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne. Read more

    TT leads charge for economic sustainability for artists

    Newsday: TT is leading the charge in encouraging exploration of export opportunities for our cultural assets as a way of acquiring economic sustainability for local artists. Read more

    Mango Export Shows Untapped Agricultural Potential, Says Williams

    Jamaica Gleaner: Describing the sector as chock-full of untapped potential, Montego Bay Deputy Mayor Leeroy Williams is imploring the nation’s youth to give serious thoughts to a career path in agriculture. Read more

    Progress of Cuban Economy Analyzed by Council of Ministers

    Prensa Latina: The Cuban Council of Ministers analyzed critically the progress of the national economy, the execution of the 2018 budget, foreign investment and programs in various regions of the country, reports today Granma daily. Read more

    60,000 Acres Of Former Cane Lands For Other Crops

    JIS: Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says some 60,000 acres of former sugar-cane lands are to be placed into other areas of agricultural production. Read more

    Barbados Tourism numbers from UK on the up

    Nation News: Barbados’ tourism numbers from the United Kingdom are up, despite the uncertainties of Brexit and the recent levies imposed on the sector as part of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) plan. Read more

    Green leading trade mission to Cuba

    Jamaica Observer: Minister of state in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, is leading a Jamaican delegation at the 16th Expo Caribe International Trade Fair. Read more

    UK insists on trading with Cuba

    CGTN: Cuba and the UK are moving to expand cooperation and trade despite U.S. opposition. A British delegation has been in Cuba this week exploring new business and investment opportunities. CGTN’s Luis Chirino has the details. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Global money laundering watchdog has crypto in its sights

    Al Jazeera: The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force will tell countries to tighten oversight of cryptocurrency exchanges. Read more

    Harmful subsidies should go – Pacific fisheries ministers

    Radio New Zealand: Pacific fisheries ministers want to see negotiations to end harmful fisheries subsidies. Meeting this week in Pohnpei, the ministers and senior government officials say the subsidies can be a constraint on the ability of small island states to develop their own fisheries. Read more

    India to push for reforms at WTO during G20 meet

    Livemint: India will push for reforming and strengthening the World Trade Organization (WTO), amid stresses and strains over free trade among key global economies, at the upcoming G20 meeting in Japan. Read more

    EU releases latest Trade and Investment Barriers Report

    EU: The latest edition of the Trade and Investment Barriers Report (TIBR) identifies 45 new trade barriers put in place in countries outside the EU in 2018, bringing the total number to a record high of 425 measures in 59 different countries, costing EU businesses billions of euros every year. Read more

    EU asks for a panel with Ukraine on wood export ban

    EU: The EU requested yesterday the establishment of an arbitration panel under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement on Ukraine’s export ban on unprocessed wood. Read more

    Macron, 3 other leaders warn Mercosur deal could ‘destabilize’ farm sector

    Politico: They demand that the quotas for beef, poultry, pork, sugar and ethanol must not be increased anymore. Read more

    Africa’s Output Grew 3.4 Percent in 2018, Afreximbank’s Trade Report Shows

    AllAfrica: The African Trade Report 2019: African Trade in a Digital World, launched in Moscow, Russia during the 26th Afreximbank Annual Meetings, indicates that Africa’s total merchandise trade in 2018 had a value of over $997.9 billion, noting that the continent remained one of the fastest growing regions in the world. Read more

    Trump Plan Seeks to Double U.S.-Africa Two-Way Trade

    Bloomberg: The U.S.’s Prosper Africa strategy plans to double two-way trade and investment between the world’s biggest economy and the continent in the coming years. Read more

    Latin America could expand annual trade to India by 42 percent, report finds

    Caribbean News Now: Trade between Latin America and India has been multiplying in recent years but has potential to expanding much more, a new study by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of India shows. Read more

    China, US trade teams to hold talks

    Economic Times: Top Chinese and US officials will hold trade talks following instructions from their leaders, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, adding that Beijing hoped Washington would create the necessary conditions for dialogue. Read more

    Canada making progress in efforts to reform World Trade Organization, trade minister Jim Carr says

    Toronto Star: Canada is making some progress mustering international consensus to reform the World Trade Organization as the clock ticks down on a dispute that could paralyze the trade organization’s ability to arbitrate disagreements, federal trade minister Jim Carr says. Read more

    Unlocking The Potential Of Africa’s Historic Trade Agreement

    Forbes: At the end of May, Africa’s landmark free trade deal came into effect, accompanied by widespread optimism that it could usher in a new era of intra-African trade possibilities and prosperity for the continent’s citizens. Read more

    Thailand urges speed on RCEP

    Nation Multimedia: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha plans to make a strong push for early conclusion of negotiations over the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – which promises to become the world’s most influential economic bloc – while chairing the Asean summit on Saturday and Sunday. Read more

    The ASEAN-Hong Kong China Free Trade Agreement and Vietnam

    Vietnam Briefing: The ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) came into effect on June 11 for Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. The remaining ASEAN member states will complete the ratification process later this year. Read more

    Apple warns US against imposing additional China tariffs

    Al Jazeera: Apple Inc. urged the Trump administration not to proceed with tariffs of as much as 25% on a new slate of products imported from China, saying it would reduce the company’s contribution to the U.S. economy. Read more

    Huge Boost For AfCFTA As Nigeria Nears Ratification

    KT Press: The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could receive a big boost before it is officially launched in July this year – following news that Nigeria – the continent’s economic power house, is reportedly finalizing the process to ratify the agreement. Read more

    Kenya roots for harmonized quality standards for enhanced intra-Africa trade

    Xinhua: Kenya on Wednesday called for harmonized quality products standards across African countries in order to enhance intra-Africa trade. Read more

    AU urges African businesses to take lead in continental free trade area

    The New Times: The African Union Commission (AUC) on Wednesday urged African businesses to take the lead in exploiting trade and economic opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which entered into force in May. Read more

    US places new restrictions on China’s supercomputers

    Al Jazeera: Citing a threat to national security, the US blacklists several Chinese technology firms and a government institute. Read more

    WTO chief says states preparing for trade court shutdown

    France24: The head of the World Trade Organization said Thursday that member states are preparing for a shutdown of the body’s dispute settlement system, following months of deadlock triggered by the United States. Read more

    WTO chief hopes Trump and Xi meet at G20 to resolve trade issues

    Al Jazeera: World leaders meeting in Japan next week must take real action on trade and not simply renew their call for easing of trade tensions, World Trade Organization Director-General Roberto Azevedo told reporters on Thursday. Read more

    Trump and Trudeau discuss USMCA finalisation at White House

    Al Jazeera: US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to project a united front on Thursday in the uphill effort to get the replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement past the finish line. Read more

    Whisky and salmon boost Scottish exports to record £1.4 million

    Gov.uk: Total exports for Scottish food and drink worth £1.4 billion in first quarter of year as whisky and salmon continue to play vital role in UK’s exporting success. Read more

    Mexico becomes first country to ratify USMCA trade deal via Senate vote

    CNBC: Mexico on Wednesday became the first country to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) agreed last year by the three countries to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Read more

    Canada becomes the first G20 country to ban shark fin trade

    BBC: Canada has become the first G20 nation to ban the import and export of shark fins, in an effort help preserve a predator under threat. Read more

    The cost of South Africa’s illegal gold trade

    The Citizen: A new report on illegal mining suggests that South Africa is losing upwards of R14 billion a year to the illicit gold trade. This is substantially more than previous estimates of about R7 billion. Read more

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