Caribbean Trade Law and Development

Tag: CARICOM

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – January 1-16, 2021

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – January 1-16, 2021

    Happy New Year! Welcome to the first Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest for 2021! We do hope that you had a great start to the year so far. We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from January 1 – 16, 2021.

    WHAT’S HAPPENED IN TRADE SINCE DECEMBER 2020?

    Since our last digest was published near the end of December 2020, some major trade developments have occurred, including on the Brexit, AfCFTA and other fronts. If you missed them, then catch up on these developments in my update article here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Re-examining Caribbean-Chinese relations

    Global Americans: Too often, United States government officials and scholars have characterized China’s relationship with Caribbean nations as a one-way affair in which the former, as a malign foreign actor, takes advantage of the latter, a small and weak group of states. Read more

    Minister aiming to expand reach of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

    Jamaica Observer: Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green is aiming to expand the reach of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee brand internationally and increase production of coffee locally. Read more

    Yvor Nassief | The Ongoing Caricom Soap Saga – Dominican Producer Outlines Concerns With Jamaican Soap Imports & Exports

    Jamaica Gleaner: The recent press coverage of the decision by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) that companies in Jamaica are not eligible to receive certificates of origin for their soap exports, thereby not enjoying duty-free access to Caricom, is one-sided and contains inaccuracies and misrepresentations. I seek to clarify some of these. Read more

    Royal Caribbean will offer cruises from Barbados in December 2021

    Royal Caribbean Blog: Royal Caribbean announced it will begin offering roundtrip cruises from Barbados at the end of 2021 on Grandeur of the Seas. Read more

    Guyana signs on to new trade, investment agreement with UK

    Jamaica Observer: Guyana has officially signed on to the new agreement that will govern trade and investment between the United Kingdom and the CARIFORUM group of countries following the UK’s exit from the European Union. Read more

    US takes sterner action against Exxon’s Chinese partner in Guyana, unlikely to affect local operations

    Stabroek: The Trump administration in its waning days took another swipe at China and its biggest firms yesterday including ExxonMobil’s Guyana partner, CNOOC for alleged misdeeds in the South China Sea. Read more

    Guyana, US security pact to reel in illegal fishing

    Stabroek: A defence partnership agreement was signed yesterday between Guyana and the United States and it is expected to ensure increased safeguards against illegal fishing in this country’s waters. Read more

    CARICOM could source COVID-19 vaccines from the African Union

    Jamaica Observer: The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has been offered access to approved COVID-19 vaccines from a shipment recently secured by the African Union. Read more

    Guyana holds talks on difficulties exporting agri, poultry products to T&T

    Newsroom: Guyana on Friday convened a virtual Joint Ministerial Trade and Agricultural Meeting with Trinidad and Tobago to discuss market access difficulties experienced by Guyana when exporting agricultural and poultry products to the twin-island republic. Read more

    Trinidad & Tobago manufacturers support trade ministry action on cement industry

    Trinidad Guardian: The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) has come out in support of recent moves by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to ensure fair trade practices in the cement industry. Read more

    Trinidad & Tobago Gov’t gets to work on reviving manufacturing sector

    Loop TT: The Ministry of Trade and Industry said it’s encouraged by emerging signs of resurgence in the manufacturing sector as noted in the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago’s (CBTT) December Monetary Policy Announcement. Read more

    Trade Ministry lists support for manufacturing

    TT Newsday: Government remains committed to the well-being and expansion of the local manufacturing sector as well as ongoing and future collaborations with the private sector, the Trade and Industry Ministry said in a statement on Friday. Read more

    Mondello: TT, US can start new chapter under Biden

    TT Newsday: Days ahead of the swearing-in of Joe Biden as new US president next Wednesday, outgoing US ambassador Joseph Mondello hoped TT and the US could use the change to strengthen their relationship. Read more

    New CARICOM manufacturing body gets to work

    Barbados Today: A new regional manufacturers association has been launched in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to help promote regional manufacturers. The founding members are the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA), the Dominican Manufacturers’ Association, the Guyana Manufacturers’ and Services Association, the Jamaica Manufacturers’ and Exporters Association, the St Lucia Manufacturers’ Association and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association. Read more

    BVI loses access to EU funding

    BVI News: The BVI and other British Overseas Territories will no longer have access to any future funding for sustainable development from the European Union as the UK’s Brexit deal took effect on January 1, 2021. Read more

    Belize exports 16,000 lbs of chicken to CARICOM

    Amandala: On December 23, Belize exported its first-ever shipment of poultry products to the CARICOM region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, announced that 16,000 pounds of chicken cuts were exported to Grenada. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    What Does 2021 Hold for Global Trade?

    Brink News: How will the expected economic recovery impact trade? Will the Biden administration maintain current President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China? Has globalization been fundamentally altered by the pandemic? BRINK invited Nicolas Lamp, a global trade expert based at the Faculty of Law of Queen’s University Canada, to share his thoughts on what trends to expect in 2021. Read more

    Air travel down 60 per cent, as airline industry losses top $370 billion: ICAO

    UN: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said on Friday, that as seating capacity fell by around 50 per cent last year, that left just 1.8 billion passengers taking flights through 2020, compared with around 4.5 billion in 2019. That adds up to a staggering financial loss to the industry of around $370 billion, “with airports and air navigation services providers losing a further 115 billion and 13 billion, respectively”, said ICAO in a press statement. Read more

    Biden aims for new course on trade, breaking with Trump and Democratic predecessors

    WP: It may not take long for President-elect Joe Biden to distinguish his trade policy from his predecessor’s “America First” approach. Read more

    U.S.-China trade war has cost up to 245,000 U.S. jobs: business group study

    Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with China has caused a peak loss of 245,000 U.S. jobs, but a gradual scaling back of tariffs on both sides would boost growth and lead to an additional 145,000 jobs by 2025, a study commissioned by the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) shows. Read more

    US-China trade war deal reaches first anniversary as bilateral mistrust hits ‘all-time high’

    SCMP: One year after signing, China lags far behind in its purchases of American goods and the trade imbalance with the US has grown. Read more

    Exclusive: UK eyes adding climate provisions in US trade talks to woo Joe Biden

    City A.M: The UK will try to add new provisions on climate change and environmental standards in US trade negotiations in a bid to woo incoming President Joe Biden. Trade secretary Liz Truss wants to build on current negotiations with the Donald Trump administration and potentially add things like enhanced protections on air pollution and corporate transparency on climate change to coax Biden’s team to the negotiating table. Read more

    Keep tariffs on China, says outgoing US trade chief

    CNA: Outgoing US President Donald Trump’s trade chief on Monday (Jan 11) urged President-elect Joe Biden to maintain tariffs imposed on China, arguing that they have shifted the balance of power in Washington’s favour. Read more

    US suspends tariffs against French goods over digital service tax

    Reuters: US had proposed tariffs on $1.3bn worth of French goods in retaliation for French tax on tech firms. Read more

    France wants suspension of ‘poisonous’ U.S.-Europe trade spat

    Financial Post: The European Union and the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden should suspend a trade dispute to give themselves time to find common ground, France’s foreign minister said in remarks published on Sunday. Read more

    UPDATE 1-USTR says Vietnam’s currency actions ‘unreasonable’ but holds off on tariffs

    Reuters: The Trump administration on Friday said Vietnam’s actions to push down the value of its currency are “unreasonable” and restrict U.S. commerce, but is not taking immediate action to impose punitive tariffs. Read more

    Canada’s international trade slows in weakening recovery

    Bloomberg: Canada’s merchandise trade deficit remained at historically elevated levels in November, as exports and imports slowed amid a weakening global recovery. Read more

    After months of COVID delays, African free trade bloc launches

    Al Jazeera: After months of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Continental Free Trade Area launches, but full implementation of the historic pact may take years. Read more

    INTERVIEW | What Africa must do to make the AfCFTA work – Trudi Hartzenberg

    African Newspage: Trudi Hartzenberg is the executive director of the Stellenbosch, South Africa-based Trade Law Centre (TRALAC), focused on improving capacity in trade governance in Africa. Hartzenberg, who currently serves on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chairs Advisory Committee is also a member of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP), a subsidiary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Read more

    AfCFTA: Three details to note as the largest free-trade agreement kicks off in Africa

    Face2Face Africa: Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is now officially the largest free trade area by the number of participating countries since the founding of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. Read more

    Malawi deposits AfCFTA ratification to AU

    Xinhua: Malawi on Friday deposited its Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) ratification instrument to the African Union (AU) Commission as the number of African countries bound by the continental free trade pact grows. Read more

    African Business Council applauds the start of trading on the basis of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

    Africa News: On 1 January 2021, at the launch of the start of trading on the basis of the AfCFTA, the Pan-African Private Sector, under the umbrella body of the African Business Council (AfBC), issued a press statement in support of this initiative. In it, the AfBC acknowledged that the start of trading under the AfCFTA presents enormous business opportunities for the Pan-African Private Sector, SMEs, Women and Youths as the continent takes this bold move towards Boosting Intra-African Trade. Read more

    UK refused deal on post-Brexit travel for musicians, says Barnier

    Politico: Amid growing uproar in the U.K. over post-Brexit travel for touring musicians, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, said the British government had rejected a clear offer from Brussels to carve out a special deal for performers. Read more

    UK trade minister seeks early meeting with U.S. trade czar on whisky tariffs

    Reuters: British trade minister Liz Truss said on Thursday she was seeking an early meeting with U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to be his trade czar, Katherine Tai, to discuss tariffs on Scottish whisky. Read more

    Post-Brexit customs systems not fit for purpose, say meat exporters

    BBC: UK meat exporters have claimed post-Brexit customs systems are “not fit for purpose”, with goods delayed for hours, sometimes days, at the border. Read more

    20% of UK chemicals registrations face revocation after Brexit

    Euractiv: Around 20% of registrations from UK-based companies to the European Union’s REACH chemicals database have not been transferred to EU companies and will be revoked after 31 March 2021, according to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Read more

    Exclusive: European Commission battles to sell post-Cotonou deal at home

    Devex: After last month’s long-awaited “political deal” on a new agreement with 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, the European Commission is now facing another hurdle: its own member states. Read more

    EU trade official wants swift engagement with Biden on aircraft, digital taxes, WTO

    Reuters: The European Union is looking to engage quickly with the Biden administration to resolve major trade irritants, including disputes over digital taxes and commercial aircraft subsides, EU Director General for Trade Sabine Weyand said on Friday. Read more

    EU trade official wants swift engagement with Biden on aircraft, digital taxes, WTO

    Nasdaq: The European Union is looking to engage quickly with the Biden administration to resolve major trade irritants, including disputes over digital taxes and commercial aircraft subsides, EU Director General for Trade Sabine Weyand said on Friday. Read more

    Forget Brexit, the most important trade deal in 2021 is in Africa

    Euractiv: While the UK splinters away from the European Union, Africa is uniting under a landmark free trade agreement, making it one of the largest since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), writes Debisi Araba. Read more

    Interview: Global trade system reform vital to economic recovery, says Australian economist

    Xinhua: The reform of the global trade system is significant for the world’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and long-term economic growth, a senior Australian economist has said. Read more

    A new administration: US sanctions trends for 2021

    GTR: A raft of new US sanctions guidance and designations made 2020 a challenging year for banks involved in trade finance, yet the overall value of financial penalties handed out was low. GTR speaks to legal experts about recent enforcement trends, the challenges facing trade finance lenders, and the likely impact of the incoming Biden administration. Read more

    China’s cross-border e-commerce plays vital role in global trade amid pandemic

    CGTN: China’s cross-border e-commerce is becoming the latest driving engine for the country’s foreign trade, which gained great momentum last year in a time of COVID-19 recessions. Read more

    Deadlines and Decisions for American Trade in 2021

    US Chamber: As the pandemic and recession hopefully begin to give way to vaccines and recovery in 2021, the U.S. Chamber’s International Affairs Division is focused on the issues that will dominate international economic policy in the months ahead. Read more

    After Trump: What Will Biden Do on Trade?

    Council on Foreign Relations: President Trump disrupted U.S. trade policy in the name of better deals. President-Elect Biden proposes a combination of stronger domestic investment and better coordination with allies. Read more

    Creative economy to have its year in the sun in 2021

    UNCTAD: Here’s why the UN has dedicated a whole year to the creative economy and its critical role in promoting sustainable development, especially in a post-coronavirus world. 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:

  • Full Interview with CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary-General, Joseph Cox – 51st COTED Meeting – VIDEO

    Full Interview with CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary-General, Joseph Cox – 51st COTED Meeting – VIDEO

    Many critical issues were on the agenda at the last CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) meeting held virtually November 26-27, 2020. The 51st COTED meeting was chaired by Hon. Oneidge Walrond, Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. Some of the issues discussed were a “Made in CARICOM” initiative, greater private sector engagement, the COVID-19 pandemic, among others.

    In the interview below published on CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General’s Youtube channel, ASG Cox discusses the main issues and outcomes from this important meeting.

    Watch the full interview below here:

  • Final Declaration of the 7th CARICOM-CUBA Summit Meeting

    Final Declaration of the 7th CARICOM-CUBA Summit Meeting

    From the CARICOM Secretariat:

    We, the Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Republic of Cuba, gathered via videoconference on 8 December, 2020, on the occasion of the 7th CARICOM-Cuba Summit held in commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the four CARICOM independent States and Cuba and the 18th anniversary of CARICOM-Cuba Day;

    Proud of our shared Caribbean identity and the progress of our political and cooperative relations that have been strengthened by our arrangements, exchanges and coordination at international forums to the benefit of our peoples, and guided by the principles of solidarity and complementarity;

    Recalling the Declarations of our Summits of Havana in 2002, Bridgetown in 2005, Santiago de Cuba in 2008, Port of Spain in 2011, Havana in 2014, and Saint Mary’s in 2017;

    Aware of our need to work together, particularly in the economic and environmental areas, for the sustainable development of our nations in a manner that helps us build more inclusive, just and equitable societies, and address our shared vulnerabilities as Small Island Developing States and countries with low-lying coastal areas;

    Deeply grieved by the loss of lives and concerned by the extensive socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating weather events that have worsened the multiple crises faced by mankind today;

    Welcoming the medical assistance provided to the Member States of CARICOM by the Government of Cuba in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

    Highlighting the importance of pooling our efforts in order to improve the productivity, infrastructure, and air and sea connectivity in our countries, and expand our economic and trade ties, through the implementation of the Revised CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement; 

    Underlining the significance of consolidating the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as a mechanism for political consultation, the promotion of our regional unity and integration, and the defence of our regional interests in international affairs and our relations with third-parties; and 

    Reaffirming the effectiveness of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, signed in Havana in January 2014.

    HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

    1. Reiterate that our regional unity and integration are based on our absolute respect for the Purposes and Principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and International Law; in particular, the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, peaceful settlement of disputes, the prohibition on the use or threat of force; as well as the promotion and protection of human rights for all.
    2. Underscore the importance of defending our regional unity for the preservation of the peace and stability of our countries.
    3. Welcome the outcomes of the 6th CARICOM-Cuba Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Georgetown, Guyana, on 14 June, 2019, which agreed on the need for more cooperation, as well as increased trade and investment.
    4. Reaffirm our will to strengthen South-South cooperation as an expression of solidarity, for the promotion of bilateral and regional programs, as well as triangular cooperation for development, with regard paid to national priorities.
    5. Express our will to continue to receive Cuban medical cooperation in recognition of its contribution to the wellbeing of the Caribbean people; in particular, its valuable human resources which were added to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  We reject any attempt to discredit, distort or disrupt Cuban medical assistance, an important aid to the region and to Caribbean healthcare system.
    6. Share our best experiences in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemiological conditions that are common to the Caribbean, and assess the possible application of innovative Cuban biotech medicines in the prevention and treatment of this pandemic.
    7. Recognize that the cooperation maintained between Cuba and the CARICOM Member States in the areas of health, human-resource training, construction, sports, education, environmental protection, and natural disaster risk reduction and mitigation, has effectively contributed to the development and wellbeing of our peoples.
    8. Continue the implementation of the Center for Stimulating the Development of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs in Guyana.
    9. Maintain the exchanges so that the Regional School of Arts in Jamaica can start to operate.
    10. Acknowledge our commitment to finding avenues that promote our economic and commercial relations by identifying our strengths and possible complementarities, and by implementing and relying more on the Second Protocol to the CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement.    
    11. Note that the Cuban economic model update, the Cuban foreign investment law and the Mariel Special Development Zone offer broad and additional opportunities for the intensification and reinforcement of the economic ties between CARICOM and Cuba.
    12. Recognize the promotion of sustainable tourism as one of the keys to economic development in the Caribbean region, and agree to strengthen our cooperation in this sector, including the implementation of multi-destination tourism in accordance with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Cuba and CARICOM States signed at the 6th CARICOM-Cuba Summit. 
    13. Emphasize that, given the scope of its impact, climate change represents one of the greatest challenges faced by our nations, the repercussions of which are particularly serious in developing countries; especially in Small Island Developing States.  For this reason, we commit to expanding our exchanges in the context of CARICOM and at relevant international agencies, in order to mitigate its adverse effects.
    14. Underline that adaptation to the impact of climate change constitutes an immediate and urgent global priority.
    15. Strengthen our cooperation in the protection of the environment and the sustainable use of our resources; in particular, those of the Caribbean Sea.  In this regard, we support the efforts made by the Association of Caribbean States to designate the Caribbean Sea as a “Special Area in the Context of Sustainable Development,” within the UN framework.
    16. Welcome the actions jointly implemented by our countries in order to reduce the risks of natural disasters and note the agreement signed between the Cuban Civil Defense Authority and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency for the purpose of expanding and integrating our regional early warning systems.  We recognize the joint efforts made to train a number of Caribbean first-response bodies, as well as Cuban and Caribbean specialists in the management of responses to natural disasters.
    17. Renew our call for a review and modification of the current “graduation” criteria for the receipt of Official Development Assistance to properly reflect the realities and specific needs of the highly indebted middle-income countries; in particular, the Caribbean States, and to integrate the different dimensions of sustainable development included in the 2030 agenda, considering that the current criteria fail to reflect our actual levels of economic and social development or the multidimensional effects of poverty, inequality and vulnerability.
    18. Express deep concern over the inclusion of certain CARICOM Member States in lists of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions and call for a change in this approach which serves to negatively impact the economies of those countries that have shown their readiness to cooperate and engage in dialogue in order to find mutually advantageous solutions for the parties.
    19. Express deep concern over and rejection of the progressive decline in correspondent banking relations being experienced by developing nations; in particular, CARICOM Member States, due to the de-risking actions by some of the major international banking corporations, which threatens the financial stability of the affected countries and limits their efforts to achieve development and socioeconomic growth.
    20. Highlight the importance of reparation and compensation, as an act of justice, for the damages caused by slavery, indentured servitude and native genocide in the Caribbean.
    21. Reject the imposition of unilateral coercive measures and, in that context, call for an immediate and unconditional end of the economic, commercial and financial blockade implemented by the Government of the United States of America against Cuba, and the termination of the US persecution of Cuban financial transactions, the relentlessness of which has increased.  Reiterate our firm rejection of the enforcement of extraterritorial laws and measures, such as the Helms-Burton Act, which grossly violate International Law and undermine the sovereignty and interests of third parties.
    22. Express our gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Cuba for its arrangements for this 7th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of CARICOM and Cuba held via videoconference.
    23. Hold the 8th CARICOM-Cuba Summit in 2023, and the 7th CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial Meeting in the Republic of Cuba in June 2022.
    24. Adopted on this 8th day of December 2020.
  • 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

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