Caribbean Trade Law and Development

Tag: Caribbean Trade & Development Digest

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – November 29 – December 5, 2020

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – November 29 – December 5, 2020

    Season’s Greetings! Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of November 29-December 5, 2020! We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    This week, on December 3, negotiators from the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) finally reached a twenty-year post-Cotonou partnership agreement. With the clock ticking to December 31 – the end of the UK’s transition period – post-brexit negotiations remain hung up on sticking points.

    For the first time since its establishment, the WTO’s Appellate Body will no longer have a single sitting judge as the term of the last remaining AB member Prof. Dr. Hong Zhao of China expired November 30.

    On December 4, Vanuatu became the sixth country to graduate from the United Nations’ category of Least Developed Country. Read more here

    The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs has voted this week to reclassify cannabis out of the most dangerous category of drug, i.e. removal from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs which had discouraged even medicinal use. This reclassification has been hailed as a step forward for some Caribbean countries like Jamaica which have joined a growing number of developed countries in developing a cannabis industry, including making cannabis use legal for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. Read more here.

    Looking regionally, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) signed an MOU with the recently formed CARICOM Private Sector Organisation towards achievement of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). CPSO was designated a CARICOM associate institution on October 29, 2020. Read my article on this deepened CARICOM-private sector engagement here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Caribbean welcomes new deal to replace Cotonou Agreement

    Jamaica Observer: The Caribbean has welcomed the political deal reached between chief negotiators for the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), for a new partnership accord to replace the Cotonou Agreement. Read more

    EU Blacklists and the WTO

    News784: In this piece, we have argued that trade agreements, buttressed by their dispute settlement and institutional mechanisms, provide viable avenues for CARICOM MS to address the longstanding problem of their inclusion on arbitrary national blacklists by the EU. Read more

    EU and ACP finalise post-Cotonou treaty, after two-year delay

    Euractiv: Negotiators from the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific community signed off on a broad 20-year partnership deal to succeed the Cotonou Agreement on Thursday night (3 December) after nearly three years of difficult talks. Read more

    CARICOM asks probing questions at UN special session

    Barbados Today: On December 3 and 4, some 155 Presidents and Prime Ministers participated in a Special Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, to discuss the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and the UN response to the pandemic. Read more

    Port of Bridgetown wins Top Award

    GIS.bb: The Port of Bridgetown has captured the 2020 Novaport Cup for Most Improved Port Performance, emerging the winner among nine regional competing ports. Read more

    Jamaica Government secures partnership to expand e-commerce opportunities for MSMEs

    Jamaica Observer: The Government has partnered with two international firms to deliver digital marketing solutions and e-commerce opportunities to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a mechanism to cope with the impact of physical distancing and other restrictive measures due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Read more

    COTED endorses Made in CARICOM Initiative

    CARICOM: Trade ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have unanimously endorsed a proposal to develop a ‘Made in CARICOM’ promotional initiative which will capitalise on one of the opportunities presented by the pandemic. Read more

    New CARICOM-EU project will tackle climate change and its health impacts in the Caribbean

    PAHO: International, regional, and government leaders announced the launch of a broad-based project to support actions to mitigate climate change and its serious health impacts in Caribbean nations. The EU/CARIFORUM Strengthening Climate Resilient Health Systems Project – a joint project of the European Union and CARICOM that PAHO is coordinating – will advance public understanding of climate change effects and strengthen the ability of health systems to respond to climate-related health impacts. Read more

    Guyana’s private sector must help gov’t push down CARICOM trade barriers- Pres. Ali

    Demerara Waves: Even as a newly-formed Caribbean Manufacturing Association (CMA) plans to explore the production of specialised sugars, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday called on local manufacturers to aggressively remove trade barriers in the Caribbean Community’s Single Market. Read more

    New Chamber of Commerce to Facilitate Two-Way Trade & Investment Between Canada & Guyana

    Newswire: The Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (CGCC) was officially launched today with a mission to facilitate two-way trade and investment between Canada and one of the fastest growing economies in the world – Guyana. Read more

    Grenada Announces Temporary Ban On Poultry From United Kingdom

    Jamaica Gleaner: Grenada says it will place a temporary ban on the importation of poultry products from the United Kingdom as of Monday. Read more

    Jamaica’s imports and exports decline from January – August 2020

    Jamaica Observer: There was a decline in Jamaica’s imports and exports for January to August 2020 when compared to the similar period in 2019 as released today by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). Read more

    Guyana lacks workforce to benefit from impending `explosive’ growth – Canadian High Commissioner

    Stabroek: Outgoing Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee today said that Guyana lacks a skilled and sizeable labour force to benefit from the “explosive” oil-linked growth that is coming and she urged the country not to resist foreign investment but use its judgement on who to trust. Read more

    Entrepreneur touts Dominican Republic-Commonwealth trade ties

    Dominican Today: The president of the Round Table of the Countries of the Commonwealth in the Dominican Republic, Fernando González Nicolás, highlighted the influence that the 54 countries of the Commonwealth have on exports and foreign investment in our nation. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Vanuatu graduated from LDC status

    UN: On 4 December, Vanuatu became the sixth country to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) category. As noted by the United Nations Secretary-General, this is “testimony to years of effort resulting in hard-won sustainable development gains”. Read more

    ‘Painful’ exit of Chinese member leaves WTO appeals body without a judge and trade dispute cases in limbo

    SCMP: For the first time since the World Trade Organization was set up 25 years ago, its Appellate Body, dubbed the top court for world trade, will have no serving judges after the departure of the Chinese member, curbing the WTO’s capacity to handle disputes. Read more

    China’s former trade chief hits out at ‘groundless’ claims country cannot join CPTPP

    SCMP: Beijing’s former top trade negotiator has dismissed as “groundless” claims that China would not meet strict criteria to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in the long term. Read more

    U.S. trade deficit widens by 1.7% to $63.1 billion in October

    CNBC: The U.S. trade deficit widened 1.7% in October to $63.1 billion. The politically sensitive gap in the trade of goods with China and Mexico grew. Read more

    US judge orders Trump administration to restore ‘Dreamer’ immigration program

    Barbados Today: A US judge ordered the Trump administration Friday to fully reinstate a program that protects from deportation immigrants who came to the country illegally as children. Read more

    Why Biden will find it hard to undo Trump’s costly ‘America first’ trade policy

    The Conversation: Since becoming president-elect, Joe Biden has signaled that restoring America’s leadership on the world stage is among his highest priorities – an intention aptly demonstrated by his Cabinet picks. Read more

    India submits new proposal limiting role of WTO dispute panel in fisheries management

    Hindu Business Line: New Delhi’s proposal on exempting developing countries with incomes, fish volume below given threshold to be discussed further. Read more

    Thirteen Extra Ordinary Session on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): The Assembly of the Union adopts decision on the start of trading

    Africa News: African Union Heads of State and Government have underscored the urgent need for member states to kick-start trading activities, under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The decision was adopted during a virtual meeting of the 13th Extra Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on the AfCFTA, held on Saturday 5 December 2020, under the Chairmanship of H.E. Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the African Union (AU). Read more

    South Africa to make changes to its borders as it prepares for multi-trillion rand trade deal

    Business Tech: President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet has approved a draft One-Stop Border Policy (OSBP) for public consultation. Read more

    Canada trade deficit shrinks slightly in October, still higher than expected

    Reuters: Canada’s trade deficit narrowed slightly to a still greater-than-expected C$3.76 billion ($2.94 billion) in October as exports grew at a faster pace than imports, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday. Read more

    Cambodia, S. Korea FTA much closer

    Khmer Times: A senior official of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) said negotiations towards a free trade agreement (FTA) between Cambodia and South Korea saw agreement on 90 percent of the issues addressed as the fourth round of talks concluded last month. Read more

    Envoy: US trade embargo is ‘main obstacle’ to trade between Cuba and other countries

    Khmer Times: Sanctions imposed by the United States (US) are a serious roadblock for Cuba doing business with other countries. This was one of the points made by Cuban Ambassador to Cambodia Liurka Rodriguez Barrios in an exclusive interview conducted at the Cuban Embassy in Phnom Penh. Read more

    WTO members may seek more time to decide on TRIPS waiver to fight Covid-19

    Hindu Business Line: 90-day timeline for decision on the India-South Africa proposal to lapse on December 31, but more deliberations could be needed, say officials. Read more

    Japan urges South Korea to end tariffs on steel bars after WTO ruling

    Japan Times: Japan urged South Korea on Tuesday to immediately remove its anti-dumping tariff on Japan-made stainless steel bars after a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel decision said an extension of the protections would be a contravention of WTO rules. Read more

    What Janet Yellen’s nomination as Treasury secretary means for U.S. policy on China and trade

    CNBC: Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has been nominated by President-elect Joe Biden as his Treasury secretary — a position that would make her, if confirmed by the Senate, a critical figure in U.S. trade negotiations with China. Read more

    WTO Members Reveal “Entrenched” Differences as Fisheries Talks Approach 2020 Deadline

    IISD: “Entrenched” positions regarding the issue of special and differential treatment (S&DT) for developing and least developed countries (LDCs) are presenting a challenge in the negotiations on a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement that would curb harmful fisheries subsidies. Read more

    Brexit trade talks: What’s at stake if no deal is reached

    Sky News: Tariffs, Northern Ireland, travel and mobile phone roaming charges will all be impacted if the two sides cannot reach agreement. 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 – November 22-28, 2020

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – November 22-28, 2020

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of November 22-28, 2020! We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    On November 30 each year Barbados celebrates its independence. We wish fellow readers in Barbados and all Barbadians both here and in the diaspora Happy 54th Anniversary of Independence!

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    This week, the World Trade Organization (WTO) released its World Trade Report 2020 with a focus on how governments use policies to foster digital innovation. Read the press release and access the full report here.

    While China and Australia are among the signatories to the recently signed RCEP, that has not slowed simmering diplomatic and trade tensions between the two Asia-Pacific nations as China slapped tariffs on wine imports from Australia. Read more in this Reuters story here.

    As in-person Brexit negotiations continued this week, there is some skepticism on whether at this late stage a deal is even possible before the expiration of the transition period. Read this commentary by Euronews here.

    Looking regionally, the Caricom Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED) held a virtual meeting this week on November 27-28, 2020 .

    A Caribbean Manufacturers Association (CMA) was launched this week. Read more . The UWI, CDB and EU have collaborated to produce the first State of the Caribbean Climate Report. Access the full report here.

    At Barbados’ Virtual ‘We Gathering’ Independence event, which brought together persons from across the island and the world, Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerome Walcott noted that the country will be opening three embassies in African countries next year which will have commercial attaches, as well as deepening its engagement with the Barbadian diaspora by establishing a diaspora policy and a national diaspora registry.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Cubans Seek Alternatives after Western Union Closes

    Havana Times: Cubans are looking for new alternatives so that remittances can continue to flow from the US to Cuba via cryptocurrencies or debit cards, after Western Union closed its offices on Monday. This has been one of the hardest blows for families on both sides of the Florida Strait, reported Reuters. Read more

    Because of Trump sanctions, Western Union remittances come to an end in Cuba
    NBC: “The problem is not the closure of Western Union, but that Western Union is practically the only U.S.-to-Cuba provider of remittance payments,” said a Washington, D.C-based analyst. Read more

    New CARICOM Manufacturers’ Association formed

    Loop: Six manufacturing associations across the Caribbean have agreed to join forces under a new CARICOM Manufacturers’ Association (CMA). Read more

    CARICOM congratulates Barbados on 54th Independence Anniversary

    BarbadosToday: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has extended congratulations to the Government and People of Barbados on its 54th Anniversary of Independence. Read more

    Blowout Of CARICOM COVID-19 Travel Bubble – Regional Heads Squabble Over Country Classification

    Jamaica Gleaner: The contents of a recent letter from Gaston Browne, the Antigua and Barbuda prime minister, to his Barbados counterpart, Mia Mottley, appears to reflect both frustration in St John’s and long-running difficulty among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to agree and implement common policies. Read more

    Barbados and Scotland launch three-day cyber event

    BarbadosToday: The first-ever virtual trade mission between Barbados and Scotland was launched today. The two countries, determined that the global COVID-19 pandemic will not be a deterrent, are staging the three-day event to showcase products and services from both territories. Read more

    Protect our share

    Barbados Today: Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-based manufacturers have been urged to scale up their production capacity, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, or risk losing important market share to outsiders. Read more

    New measurements legislation coming

    Barbados Today: Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Kerrie Symmonds, speaking on Monday during a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum on the Bill via Zoom, said the new legislation is an important step to modernising the economy and enhancing the island’s export potential. Read more

    Gopee-Scoon: Let Caribbean pool its production resources

    Newsday: Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon urged manufacturers across the Caribbean to pool resources for their mutual benefit, addressing the virtual signing ceremony of the Caribbean Manufacturers Association (CMA) on Wednesday. Read more

    Cuba and Jamaica strengthen trade ties in medical field

    Prensa Latina: Cuban and Jamaican companies from the medical sector held an entrepreneurial forum on Friday, under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce of Cuba (CCC) and the Jamaican Embassy in Havana. Read more

    JSWIFT Exceeding Turnaround Time For Processing Trade Documents

    JIS: The Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT) has been doing same day processing for approximately 50 to 70 per cent of documents submitted daily, thereby exceeding expectations of the online portal. Read more

    Jamaican businesses invited to participate in US virtual trade mission and networking event

    Jamaica Observer: The American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM) is partnering with the US Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service and the US Embassy in Jamaica to host a Caribbean region virtual trade mission on December 1. Read more

    Expanding and developing the Guyana economy

    Stabroek: When oil and gas production fields in Guyana are fully operational, the fossil energy sector is likely to be the predominant source of national economic activity through its direct contribution to foreign exchange earnings, government fiscal revenues, employment and labour incomes, and local purchases of goods and services. Read more

    Despite major oil discoveries World Bank still lists Guyana among poorest in South America

    Stabroek: Guyana’s multiple major oil discoveries beginning in May 2015 may have set the country on the path to realising a level of wealth not before seen in the Caribbean, but a recent World Bank Review still regards the country as being “one of the poorest in South America.” Read more

    Guyana, Suriname to deepen economic and social cooperation

    Jamaica Observer: President Irfaan Ali has pledged to deepen the bond between Guyana and neighbouring Suriname. Read more

    Guyana & Suriname sign MoU to bridge the Corentyne River

    LoopNewsCaribbean: Trade between Guyana and Suriname will soon have a new route as both governments finalised and signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday to construct a bridge over the Corentyne River. Read more

    Belize to benefit from new tax breaks in Chetumal

    Breaking Belize News: Тhе bоrdеrѕ аrе сurrеntlу сlоѕеd, but whеn thеу rеореn, Веlіzеаnѕ ѕhорріng іn Сhеtumаl, Quіntаnа Rоо, Мехісо wіll bеnеfіt frоm fuеl аnd tах brеаkѕ tо bе іntrоduсеd аnd ехраndеd аlоng thе ѕоuthеrn frоntіеr аѕ wеll аѕ thе nоrth, ассоrdіng tо Rеutеrѕ.  Read more

    Over 600 heads of cattle going to Mexico in December

    Breaking Belize News: Тhе trаdе оf lіvеѕtосk bеtwееn Веlіzе, Мехісо, аnd Guаtеmаlа, ѕtаllеd іn thе lаttеr dауѕ оf thе Dеаn Ваrrоw аdmіnіѕtrаtіоn, hаѕ bееn rеvіvеd іn еаrnеѕt bу ѕuссеѕѕоr Јоhn Вrісеñо аnd hіѕ Міnіѕtеr оf Аgrісulturе аnd Еntеrрrіѕе, Јоѕе Маі. Read more

    CDB, IMPACS and OECS partner to establish maritime single window

    Menafm: A maritime single window will be established in the Eastern Caribbean in the upcoming months says director of the projects department at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Daniel Best. Read more

    Working together vital

    Barbados Advocate: The challenges faced this year have highlighted the importance of closer integration and collaboration to help ensure that fragile regional economies can more effectively absorb and rebound from external shocks. Read more

    Grenada and Georgia sign Visa Waiver Agreement

    NowGrenada: Grenada‘s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Her Excellency Keisha A McGuire, and her Georgian counterpart, His Excellency Kaha Imnadze, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations, executed agreements that would waive visa requirements, allowing nationals of Grenada and Georgia to travel between the 2 countries without a visa for stays not exceeding 90 days. Read more

    Security forces start planning for UNCTAD 15

    BarbadosToday: Members of the local and regional security cluster for the UNCTAD 15 Conference recently stepped up their preparation for the Conference with a training exercise at the Headquarters of the Regional Security System (RSS) at Paragon, Christ Church. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Global tariff relief on medical goods urged by group of nations

    Livemint: The European Union said it would join forces with countries including Canada and Japan to push fellow World Trade Organization members to ease tariffs on medical equipment needed to fight Covid-19, the latest effort to bolster supply chains amid the pandemic. Read more

    China slaps tariffs of up to 212% on Australian wine imports

    CNN Business: Australian winemakers have been dealt a huge blow from China as tensions continue to spiral between the two countries. Read more

    PM warns economic challenges lie ahead as China’s wine tariffs hit

    The Sydney Morning Herald: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned of more economic challenges ahead, saying the age of certainty enjoyed before the coronavirus pandemic was an aberration with more disruption caused by global competition likely to feature in coming years. Read more

    China increases coal import quotas but Australia likely to be excluded

    The Guardian: China’s foreign ministry has warned Australia to handle the bilateral relationship with “mutual respect and equality” after it imposed “devastating” tariffs of up to 212% on Australia wines. Read more

    Australia prepares to escalate action against China to World Trade Organization over barley tariffs

    ABC (Australia): As tension grows over Beijing’s massive tariffs on Australian wine, the Federal Government is continuing with plans to take China to the World Trade Organization over barley exports. Read more

    Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: how global and local experience would play out in WTO top job

    The Conversation: The global economy faces profound uncertainties, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, faith in the efficacy of international bodies such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been weakened by a power struggle between China and the US. Read more

    UK, France sign new deal to stop illegal migration across Channel

    Reuters: Britain and France signed a new agreement to try to stop illegal migration across the Channel on Saturday, upping patrols and technology in the hope of closing off a dangerous route used by migrants to try to reach the UK on small boats. Read more

    How close to a Brexit trade deal are we?

    BBC: With only just over a month to go before the transition period ends, the rumour mill keeps churning relentlessly. Runes are read out loud, and potential – though never confirmed – compromise solutions are leaked to the hungry UK media (the European press is rather more preoccupied by Covid-19 and Christmas plans).

    Brexit talks restart in person in London as clock ticks down

    Al Jazeera: Negotiators meet in last-ditch bid to secure deal before the UK’s transition period with the EU ends on December 31. Read more

    Last-ditch Brexit trade talks resume amid growing EU scepticism

    The Guardian: Michel Barnier has told bloc he is prepared for four more days of make-or-break negotiations. Read more

    UK-EU trade deal would avoid years of acrimony, says funds industry

    Reuters: A trade deal between Britain and the European Union would help open the door to cross-border financial services from January and avoid years of acrimony, industry officials said on Monday. Read more

    British, Irish prime ministers discuss EU trade negotiations

    Reuters: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Friday evening and discussed progress in UK-EU trade negotiations, the UK government said, at a time when differences remained with the EU on a Brexit trade deal. Read more

    Mercosur/EU trade deal: “time is pressing,” cautions Uruguay

    Mercopress: Uruguayan foreign minister Francisco Bustillo leaves this week for Spain the first of a round of European countries ahead of the coming Mercosur summit to be held next month, under the presidency of Uruguay. Finalizing the Mercosur/European Union trade agreement is the focus of the trip. Read more

    Europe ‘cannot afford’ to bow out of Mercosur agreement, says academic

    Euractiv: The crisis of multilateralism, driven by the competition between the US and China, and a lukewarm push from the current leaders of the EU and Mercosur, explains why the agreement between these two blocks is such a challenge, analysts say. Read more

    Ottawa unveils funding for poultry and egg farmers hurt by free-trade deals

    CBC: Canadian egg and poultry farmers who’ve lost domestic market share due to two recent free-trade agreements will soon have access to $691 million in federal cash, Canada’s agriculture minister announced Saturday. Read more

    EU Parliament Backs Lobster Deal And EU-US Mini Trade Pact

    VOANews: The European Union parliament on Thursday approved a mini trade deal with the United States, which includes the elimination of customs duties on U.S. lobster imports. The passage with 638 votes for, 45 against and 11 abstentions was the last major political step for the deal to come into effect. Read more

    Commons considers Bloc bill to end dairy concessions in trade deals

    CBC: When Canadian trade negotiators begin talks with the United Kingdom next year on a permanent bilateral trade deal, their hands could be tied when it comes to offering any future dairy, egg or poultry concessions — if Parliament passes a new private member’s bill that saw its first hour of debate on Tuesday. Read more

    New regional trade deals to help China ‘sustain its advantages’ in global supply chains

    CNBC: China is set to remain a key player in global supply chains, thanks to a combination of factors ranging from the coronavirus pandemic to new trade agreements. Read more

    Africa to welcome e-commerce to speed up trade

    Menafm: A virtual import and export meeting and exhibition opened on Tuesday, November 24, with the Zambian government advising African countries to welcome e-commerce in order to speed up trade. Read more

    AfCFTA: African Finance Ministers to discuss payments system for trade bloc

    Nairametrics: The African Union is set to discuss the launch of a payment system for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Read more

    AfCFTA Secretariat rolls out ‘vision’ initiative

    Ghanaweb: With barely two weeks left to the Extraordinary Summit of African Union Heads of State on 5th December, 2020, ahead of the expected start of trading under AfCFTA on 1st January 2021, the AfCFTA Secretariat is pleased to announce AfCFTA Vision, an Initiative in partnership with the Sankoree Institute, an affiliate of AfroChampions. Read more

    Why India Refused to Join the World’s Biggest Trading Bloc

    Foreign Policy: On Sunday, Nov. 15, 15 Asian nations representing nearly a third of the global economy signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), forming the world’s biggest trading bloc. But one Asian economic giant was missing: India. Despite protracted negotiations, New Delhi refused to join the accord. Read more

    PM Modi, Johnson discuss ‘ambitious roadmap’ for India-UK ties in next decade

    Hindustan Times: A Downing Street spokesperson said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK’s Boris Johnson discussed joint efforts to find treatments and vaccines for coronavirus and welcomed the collaboration between the two countries’ leading scientists. Read more

    Dombrovskis: Deep and comprehensive trade deal with the US ‘not feasible’

    Euractiv: European Commission executive vice-president, Valdis Dombrovskis, believes that Joe Biden’s victory will bring a fresh start to the EU-US relations. But there are limits, as he considers that it would not be feasible to try again to negotiate a deep and comprehensive trade deal like the TTIP, he told EURACTIV in an interview on Wednesday (25 November). Read more

    France is pushing ahead with its tax on US Big Tech after a 10-month standoff with Trump, setting the stage for a trade war over makeup and handbags

    Business Insider: France has demanded US tech giants pay its new 3% digital services tax, in a re-escalation of a trade war with the White House that was put on hold in January. 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 – November 8-14, 2020

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – November 8-14, 2020

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of November 8-14, 2020! We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    Fifteen States, comprising 30% of the world’s economy, have signed the world’s largest trading bloc – the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The signatory States include all 10 ASEAN Member States, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. Read more here.

    The EU has put in place countermeasures against the US with respect to the WTO Boeing dispute, increasing tariffs on U.S. exports into the EU worth $4 billion. Read more here.

    EU and UK negotiators resumed Brexit talks in London but appear no closer to a post-Brexit deal as time for the end of the transition period runs out.

    Belizeans went to the polls this week and voted for a change of government. John Briceno has been sworn in as Belize’s new Prime Minister. Read more here.

    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has released a statement congratulating President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Regional experts have been weighing in on what the Biden/Harris victory could potentially mean for US-Caribbean relations. I have included some of the articles below. You can also read my analysis here.

    REGIONAL

    Don’t expect Biden to rescue the Caribbean, says Bernal

    Jamaica Observer: There will be no financial windfall for the Caribbean from a Joe Biden-led US Government cautions Richard Bernal, former Jamaican ambassador to the USA, who on Friday shared his views on the foreign policy implications of a Biden win. Read more

    UWI’s Beckles: Biden/Harris victory a ‘win’ for Caribbean

    TT Newsday: UWI Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles says the Biden/Harris victory is also “a win” for the Caribbean. He was speaking at a virtual media conference on Thursday afternoon under the theme Caricom, the UWI, Biden and the Future of Our Voice. Read more

    Sir Ronald Sanders: The world is waiting to breathe normally again

    Jamaica Observer: Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries should by now have worked out a strategy for securing the early attention of United States President-elect Joe Biden and the team working on his transition into the White House and to the helm of the Government. Read more

    What a Biden-Harris win means for Jamaica and the Caribbean

    Guyanese Online: While there will be considerable euphoria and pride in a Joe Biden-Kamala Harris win in the US presidential race, Jamaica-born New York-based political scientist, Diana Cassells, is cautioning Jamaica and the Caribbean about their expectations at this time. Read more

    American legislators with C’bean roots jubilant over Biden-Harris victory

    Jamaica Observer: Caribbean American legislators in the United States on Saturday celebrated the election of US Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden and his Caribbean American vice-presidential running mate Senator Kamala Harris. Read more

    Coffee exporters seeking to retain US$10 million in exports to Japan

    Jamaica Observer: The Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association is seeking to retain some US$10 million in exports of Blue Mountain coffee to the Japanese market for the 2020-21 crop year, similar to the value purchased last year. Read more

    Government Supports Export Efforts Of Local Businesses

    JIS: State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, said the Government is committed to facilitating the export efforts of local businesses. Read more

    Transformational Changes Coming For Agriculture In The Region

    Jamaica Gleaner: As agriculture and food systems across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) try to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers must act to unleash the sector’s vast potential to drive sustainable and inclusive growth for decades to come, according to a new World Bank report. Read more

    BSI launches project to support sugar industry

    Amandala: On November 2, 2020, ASR/BSI officially launched the Belize Smart Sugarcane Cluster Project, a digital platform that will make information readily available to all the stakeholders in the sugarcane industry, and will especially help the 5,200 farmers who grow most of the cane that the Tower Hill factory converts to sugar for export and to supply local needs. Read more

    Vincentian appointed Director of Trade and Sustainable Development Association of Caribbean States

    Searchlight: Safiya Horne-Bique, a Vincentian national, assumed her duties as Director of Trade and Sustainable Development at the Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) on Monday November 2, 2020. Read more

    Europe’s appetite for Caribbean food highlights growing trend

    EU Reporter: The Caribbean food market is now worth almost £100 million. Sauces and condiments in particular are worth £1.12 billion and grew by 16.8% in the last year. Read more

    Western Union to suspend US transfers to Cuba

    Caribbean News Global: Western Union said on Friday it was suspending US money transfers to Cuba in 10 days due to the Trump administration’s latest sanction on the Communist-run island, in a blow to the many Cubans who rely on remittances from family abroad. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL

    RCEP: Asia-Pacific countries form world’s largest trading bloc

    BBC: Fifteen countries have formed the world’s largest trading bloc, covering nearly a third of the global economy. Read more

    What is RCEP and what does an Indo-Pacific free-trade deal offer China?

    SCMP: When leaders from 15 countries in the Indo-Pacific region meet for a virtual summit on Sunday, they are expected to sign a free-trade agreement that, measured by population and GDP, is one of the most ambitious ever struck. Read more

    Trudeau: UK’s lack of negotiating practice could delay Canada trade deal

    The Guardian: Canada could easily negotiate a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK, Justin Trudeau has said, but he warned that talks could be delayed because British negotiators are so out of practice. Read more

    Trudeau says he expects trade deal with U.K. can be done before 2021

    CBC: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he expects Canada can make a new trade deal with the U.K. before the calendar hit 2021. Read more

    Boeing WTO case: The EU puts in place countermeasures against U.S. exports

    EU: The European Commission’s regulation increasing tariffs on U.S. exports into the EU worth $4 billion will be published in the Official Journal of the EU. Read more

    EU-UK talks: ‘Make or break’ moment approaching, say both sides

    BBC: Trade talks between the UK and EU are reaching the “make or break” point, the two sides have said, with key differences proving hard to resolve. Read more

    EU unlikely to give UK more time to adjust after Brexit transition ends, Ireland’s FM tells Euronews

    Euronews: It is unlikely the European Union will grant the UK a grace period in January to help business adjust to the new post-Brexit trading regime, Ireland’s foreign affairs minister has told Euronews. Read more

    Trading partners seek post-Brexit clarity at WTO

    Reuters: Major trading partners called on Britain and the European Union (EU) on Friday to clarify terms for renegotiating tariff levels after Brexit and for compensating their suppliers for any lost market access, a Geneva trade official said. Read more

    In first for Fed, U.S. central bank says climate poses stability risks

    Reuters: “The U.S. Federal Reserve for the first time called out climate change among risks enumerated in its biannual financial stability report, and warned about the potential for abrupt changes in asset values in response to a warming planet. Read more

    EU hits Amazon with antitrust charges. A huge fine could follow

    CNN: The European Union has unveiled formal antitrust charges against Amazon for abusing its dominance in online shopping and opened a second investigation into the company’s business practices. Read more

    Commission welcomes agreement on the modernisation of EU export controls

    EU: The European Commission welcomes the agreement reached today by the European Parliament and the Council on its proposal for a modernisation of EU export controls on sensitive dual-use goods and technologies. Read more

    Appointment of WTO chief in doubt after key meeting cancelled

    The Guardian: Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had been expected to be confirmed as leader on Monday. Read more

    5 ways the WTO can make investment easier and boost sustainable development

    World Economic Forum: As WTO delegates discuss what might be important measures to include, here are five provisions worth considering. Read more

    As WTO Talks Continue on Subsidy Reform Initiatives, Concerns Persist over Poor Notification Records

    IISD: The need to reform the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) agriculture subsidy rules and to clinch a deal that disciplines harmful fisheries subsidies are well known, and the latter agreement is now nearly within striking distance. Read more

    WTO Committee Discusses Ways to Facilitate FDI in Small Economies

    IISD: A meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Trade and Development discussed foreign direct investment (FDI) and a joint communication on accelerating implementation of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Read more

    Minister for Agriculture: ‘Tariffs will apply under WTO rules in no-deal Brexit’

    Irish Examiner: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has confirmed that tariffs will apply to Irish goods going into the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit scenario because of World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. Read more

    How intra-African trade is progressing amid the pandemic

    BBC: Last year African countries signed an agreement aimed at increasing trade between them. If implemented successfully, they believe it could create a single African market of over a billion consumers. 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 – November 1-7, 2020

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – November 1-7, 2020

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of November 1-7, 2020! We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHT

    The WTO General Council this week postponed the meeting it had scheduled for 9 November to consider the appointment of the next WTO Director-General. Nigerian candidate Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the candidate for whom the WTO membership expressed support, but her selection was contested by the US. Read more here.

    Come January 20, 2021, the US will have its 46th president. US Democratic Party candidate, former Vice President under the Obama administration and Delaware Senator, Joe Biden, has been declared the President-elect, winning the US presidential election and defeating incumbent Republican president, Donald Trump. Biden’s VP pick, Senator Kamala Harris who is of Indian and Jamaican parentage, will be the female VP and the first person of colour to do so. Of particular interest to the Caribbean is that she is the first person of Caribbean heritage to rise to the office.

    On the other side of the Atlantic, ‘significant differences’ are making a post-Brexit UK-EU deal elusive, says UK PM Boris Johnson. Read more.

    Meanwhile, the UK and Kenya successfully concluded negotiations on a trade deal. Kenya would be the sixth African country with which the UK has secured a post-Brexit trading arrangement. Read more

    Regionally, Prime Minister of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, was elected for an unprecedented 5th term of office. Read more

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Invest Barbados stands by its criticism of EU Blacklisting amid claims it misunderstood the issue

    Barbados Today: Invest Barbados has rubbished claims by a European Union (EU) official that there are “unfounded concerns” and misconceptions about the island’s inclusion on the EU’s list of “non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes”. Read more

    Belize passes historic legislation banning gillnet fishing

    BBN: Тhіѕ wееk, thе Gоvеrnmеnt оf Веlіzе (GОВ) роѕіtіоnеd thе соuntrу аѕ а glоbаl lеаdеr іn ѕuѕtаіnаblе dеvеlорmеnt bу раѕѕіng lеgіѕlаtіоn tо bаn thе uѕе оf gіllnеtѕ, а dеѕtruсtіvе tуре оf fіѕhіng gеаr, frоm bеіng uѕеd іn Веlіzеаn wаtеrѕ. Read more

    CTO launches #TheCaribbeanAwaits campaign for Tourism Month

    LoopTT: The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced a social media campaign dubbed, #TheCaribbeanAwaits, in observance of Caribbean Tourism Month this month. Read more

    Panama and Guyana preparing to join Latin American hemp rush

    BBN: Аѕ аnnоunсеd bу Аttоrnеу Gеnеrаl аnd Міnіѕtеr оf Lеgаl Аffаіrѕ Аnіl Nаndlаll, Guуаnа’ѕ gоvеrnmеnt іѕ rеvіеwіng fеаѕіbіlіtу ѕtudіеѕ аnd hаѕ dіѕсuѕѕеd hеmр trіаlѕ. Іn Раnаmа, gоvеrnmеnt rерrеѕеntаtіvеѕ аnd dерutіеѕ іn thе Nаtіоnаl Аѕѕеmblу аgrееd tо fоrm а соmmіttее tо аnаlуzе hеmр’ѕ роtеntіаl fоr іnduѕtrіаl dеvеlорmеnt durіng dіѕсuѕѕіоnѕ аbоut а рrороѕеd hеmр lаw. Read more

    China and Jamaica extending bilateral trade agreements

    NYCaribNews: During a virtual meeting with China’s Ambassador to Jamaica, Tian Qi on Friday, October 30, Audley Shaw, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, says he is committed to exploring the possibilities of pursuing greater cooperation with the Government of China. Read more

    Jamaica pushing to export pork, other items to China

    Jamaica Observer: The Jamaican Government is targeting the export of pork to China as the Andrew Holness Administration signals its intent to pursue greater cooperation with Beijing in areas of trade. Read more

    Jamaica, other C’bean countries to benefit from value chain intervention

    Jamaica Observer: Jamaica is benefiting from intervention aimed at strengthening the value chain for the production of indigenous black castor oil. Read more

    JSWIFT Project Being Implemented by JCA

    JIS: The Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT) Project is at various stages of implementation by the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), which is spearheading the initiative’s rollout on behalf of the Government. Read more

    Challenges with CARICOM Bubble with COVID Says Dr. Ralph Gonsalves

    TV6: The chairman of CARICOM says, there is a major challenge with the CARICOM travel bubble allowing scheduled International and regional flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

    Mariano Browne: Refinery hard to restart

    Newsday: Former trade minister Mariano Browne has said many obstacles exist to a restart of the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery. Read more

    SheTrades Hub to support female entrepreneurs in Trinidad & Tobago

    LoopTT: Government has affirmed its commitment to providing opportunities to female entrepreneurs as part of driving the country’s COVID-19 economic recovery. SheTrades Hub, Trinidad and Tobago, was launched yesterday making this country the first in the Caribbean to officially launch one. Read more

    Saint Lucia, U.S. and Taiwan Deepen Investment and Entrepreneurship Partnerships

    US Embassy: In support of Saint Lucia Business Month, the U.S. and Taiwan embassies joined efforts to explore private investment and entrepreneurship opportunities with Saint Lucia. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    WTO Negotiating Group Hears Brazil’s Proposal on Fisheries Subsidies

    IISD: World Trade Organization (WTO) members continued discussions on addressing harmful fisheries subsidies throughout October. The 20 October meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules heard a proposal from Brazil on percentage cuts to subsidies, and discussed the issue of proportionality in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing violations. Read more

    WTO members greenlight EU sanctions against US over Boeing aid

    Euractiv: World Trade Organisation members gave the green light Monday (26 October) for Brussels to slap tariffs on $4.0 billion in US imports annually in retaliation for illegal American aid to plane maker Boeing. Read more

    Africa free trade agreement must be rolled out by January after pandemic delay – Secretariat

    News24: Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat told delegates at the annual competition law, economics & policy conference on Wednesday that the Secretariat was at advances stages of concluding phase one of the agreement which deals with the trading of goods and services. Read more

    Rwanda-Ghana Relations to Spur Africa Trade Agenda

    AllAfrica: Rwanda and Ghana have resolved to boost bilateral relations with a broad, varied economic agenda at the core. This week, Foreign Affairs Minister Vincent Biruta was in Ghana to take part in a series of events that officials say will help to strengthen diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two countries. Read more

    Brexit: ‘Significant differences remain’ over trade deal

    BBC: Following a call with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday, the PM said progress had been made but there were still issues around the “level playing field” and fishing. Read more

    Brexit talks remain deadlocked going into decisive week

    The Guardian: The Brexit negotiations remained stuck after a call between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen before a decisive week of talks. The European commission president and the prime minister both highlighted in their post-call statements the contentious issues of EU access to British waters and agreement on future rules to ensure fair competition. Read more

    Brazil to lead MERCOSUR talks; Deeper cooperation in defence, space, Ayurveda and agriculture, says India’s envoy to Brazil

    Financial Express: To further strengthen their ties, India and Brazil elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership in 2006 and since then the relationship has witnessed an upward trend. President Jair Bolsonaro was the chief guest at the Republic Day this year. Read more

    Argentina wants EU to eliminate zero tariff access for Falklands’ exports

    Mercopress: Argentina held a meeting with the European Union ambassador and 21 of 27 EU members’ representatives in Buenos Aires and formally called for an end of the support for UK Falklands’ sovereignty recognition in the ongoing Brexit negotiations between Brussels and London. Read more

    US soybeans being loaded in Louisiana for Brazil

    Mercopress: A U.S. grain export terminal near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is loading about 38,000 tons of U.S. soybeans on a bulk cargo vessel for shipment to Brazil, according to Southport Agencies shipping lineup. Read more

    China’s exports surged unexpectedly last month, as pace of import growth cooled off

    South China Morning Post: China’s exports grew by 11.4 per cent in October from a year earlier while imports grew by 4.7 per cent. Read more

    Branding rights on Basmati rice: Pakistan prepares response for European Commission

    The News: Pakistan has prepared a detailed response for submission before the European Commission on December 10, 2020 in order to foil the Indian attempts for obtaining branding rights on Basmati rice, Adviser to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said on Friday. Read more

    UK and Kenya secure a trade agreement

    Gov.uk: The UK has moved a step closer to signing a sixth trade deal in Africa today (3 November), as negotiations on a trade deal are finalised with Kenya. The agreement will ensure all companies operating in Kenya, including British businesses, can continue to benefit from duty-free access as they export products including vegetables and flowers to their customers back in the UK. Read more

    UK-Australia trade deal ‘within months’

    The Canberra Times: The United Kingdom hopes to be able to reach a trade agreement with Australia within months, British trade minister Liz Truss says. Read more

    Irish businesses told not to wait for trade deal to prepare for Brexit

    Irish Times: Irish businesses that trade with the UK should not wait until a trade deal has been agreed between the UK and the EU to begin their preparations for Brexit, customs clearance service Declaron has warned. Read more

    RCEP summit on Nov. 15 to discuss trade deal by year-end, without India

    Nikkei: Asian-Pacific leaders representing the nations involved in the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will soon discuss reaching a long-awaited agreement by the end of the year, Nikkei learned Friday.

    Thailand ready to attend RCEP trade deal

    Bangkok Post: Thailand is ready to attend the signing of the long-awaited Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at the 37th Asean Summit under the chairmanship of Vietnam next week. Read more

    Is the Pacific’s new trade deal an early Xmas gift or a double edged sword?

    RNZ: The Australia and New Zealand led PACER Plus, is touted as a trade and development agreement that will strengthen economic development in the region. Nine Pacific countries have signed on to the deal with six having ratified it so far. 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: