CARICOM Secretariat | Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana | Thursday, 29 January 2026: A senior Caribbean Community (CARICOM) official has positioned deeper regional integration as a strategic response to an increasingly fragmented and uncertain global trade environment, as global rules-based systems weaken and economic nationalism intensifies.
Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM Single Market and Trade, was a panelist discussing Prospects for International Trade in 2026 in the Context of the Changing Global Geopolitical and Economic Landscape – Impact on Trade and the Challenges and Opportunities for the Caribbean and Latin America. The discussion was held on Wednesday, 28 January, at the World Trade Centre in Georgetown, Guyana.
Contextualising the Region’s position, Amb. McCook said: “For our Region, the scars of the immediate past are visible. The devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa encapsulated the dual challenge we face: the existential threat of climate change and the inherent economic vulnerabilities of our CARICOM Member States. Simultaneously, we have navigated dramatic shifts in global trade, driven largely by an intensified “America First” trade policy that has significantly impacted our exports, value chains and supply chains through a suite of unprecedented tariff measures.”
Against the background of what he described as “a truly tumultuous 2025” for international and regional trade, Amb. McCook highlighted CARICOM’s “oneness” and its resilience to navigate the “choppy waters” of the 21st century.
Amb. McCook warned that the erosion of multilateral trade norms is no longer theoretical, but already affecting investment, supply chains, and growth prospects worldwide.
According to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global foreign direct investment fell by 11 per cent in 2024, marking a second consecutive year of decline, with further weakness expected in 2026. Global trade growth has slowed dramatically, falling below one per cent in 2025, even as uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry reshape supply chains.
Despite these headwinds, CARICOM’s trade performance has shown resilience. Between 2023 and 2024, CARICOM exports grew by 32 per cent to US$34.7B, with exports to the United States increasing by 86 per cent. However, recent data reveals uneven impacts across Member States.
The Assistant Secretary-General pointed to the recent steps toward full free movement of people by Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as tangible progress toward a more integrated Community.
“Fundamentally, CARICOM integration should be seen as a strategic response to a shifting global order,” he emphasised.
Addressing prospects for international trade in 2026, he advanced a multi-pronged strategy focused on strengthening intra-regional trade, strengthening existing relationships while diversifying global partnerships beyond traditional allies, and deepening economic integration. Central to this approach is the CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy (CIPS), and the 25×25+5 food security agenda aimed at reducing food import dependence and boosting regional production.
Read his presentation here: https://caricom.org/deeper-caricom-integration-key-to-navigating-fractured-global-trade-order-amb-wayne-mccook/
Tag: news
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Deeper CARICOM integration key to navigating fractured global trade order – CARICOM ASG
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Caribbean-African Trade: The Unfinished Bridge
Ashley Williams, Guest Contributor
The Premise
History left a fracture where a bridge should have been. The Caribbean and Africa—two regions tethered by blood, yet disconnected by trade.
For centuries, we have exchanged culture, music, and resilience, but not commerce at scale. That was by design.
Today, we are positioned to correct that. Not as an afterthought, not as a side conversation, but as a deliberate economic force.
The Caribbean and Africa are two sides of the same coin—one rich in resources, the other rich in financial infrastructure and global access.
The question is not if this bridge will be built. The question is who will control its foundation.
The Case for Reconnection
For decades, Caribbean nations have been locked into trade cycles dictated by former colonial powers. Our largest exports still head to North America and Europe.
Our tourism models remain dependent on Western economies. Even our food supply is largely imported from outside the region.
Africa, too, has been locked into extractive economic relationships—its vast resources flowing outward, while financial control remains offshore.
China, the EU, and the U.S. have embedded themselves as dominant players in African trade. Yet, the Caribbean is absent. Why?
Because we have not yet moved as a collective force. But when we do, the system changes.
Strategic Synergies: What We Bring, What They Bring
Caribbean economies are small but agile. We are financial architects. We design offshore structures, manage global wealth, and maneuver regulatory frameworks like second nature.
Africa, on the other hand, is a sleeping giant—a landmass of opportunity, with raw materials, energy potential, and scale.
The synergy is undeniable. The Caribbean is the financial brain, Africa is the industrial body.
1. Financial Infrastructure & Alternative Investment
The Bahamas is a financial powerhouse—one of the world’s most recognized offshore banking hubs. Africa is experiencing a fintech revolution, leapfrogging traditional banking systems.
– Caribbean Strength: We control regulatory frameworks, offshore finance, and structured investment models.
– African Strength: Digital banking, mobile finance, and large-scale investment needs.
– Opportunity: A Caribbean-African sovereign wealth fund that structures investments in real estate, energy, and infrastructure across both regions.
2. Renewable Energy & Power Independence
Both regions suffer from high energy costs and dependency on fossil fuels. Africa has solar farms the size of cities, untapped hydroelectric power, and access to rare minerals needed for battery storage.
– Caribbean Strength: Expertise in solar-powered desalination, grid management, and sustainable energy policies.
– African Strength: Raw materials, large-scale renewable energy projects, and battery storage potential.
– Opportunity: Co-owned energy companies** that provide off-grid power solutions for both regions—drastically reducing reliance on external energy suppliers.
3. Food Security & Agricultural Trade
The Caribbean imports **80% of its food. That is a liability. Africa has the land and the output to close this gap.
– Caribbean Strength: Trade logistics, duty-free zones, and financial structuring.
– African Strength: Large-scale agricultural production, natural farming conditions.
– Opportunity: A direct agricultural pipeline, moving fresh, organic African produce into the Caribbean food supply chain.
4. Real Estate & Infrastructure Development
Both regions have a real estate boom, but capital access remains a challenge. The Bahamas understands luxury development and foreign direct investment. Africa needs urban expansion and commercial real estate projects.
– Caribbean Strength: Investment-friendly real estate laws, residency incentives, and luxury market expertise.
– African Strength: High demand for commercial and residential expansion.
– Opportunity: A Caribbean-African Real Estate Fund that funnels investment capital from both regions into large-scale developments.
Breaking the Barriers: The Playbook
This is not a matter of potential, but of execution. The barriers are not structural; they are psychological and logistical.
1. Trade Agreements & Economic Alignment
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) exists. CARICOM exists. The link between the two is missing.
Bilateral agreements must eliminate tariffs, streamline import/export regulations, and incentivize direct Caribbean-African trade flows.
2. Direct Shipping & Air Cargo Routes
Right now, Caribbean-Africa trade requires detours through Europe or the U.S. That is not sustainable. We need dedicated trade hubs in The Bahamas, Barbados, and Jamaica to serve as logistical entry points for African goods.
3. Digital Trade & Blockchain Integration
Africa leads in mobile banking. The Bahamas leads in blockchain-friendly regulation. Smart contracts, blockchain-based supply chain verification, and digital trade platforms can bypass traditional barriers and create frictionless commerce.
The Bahamas as the Financial Bridge
The Bahamas is uniquely positioned to be the Caribbean-African trade epicenter. It is one of the world’s most respected financial jurisdictions, a tax-neutral hub, and a global player in wealth management and fintech.
What must happen next? A formalized Caribbean-African Investment Forum. A platform that:
– Connects investors with African-Caribbean projects.
– Structures investment vehicles for real estate, energy, and agriculture.
– Expands digital banking solutions to enable smooth financial transactions.
The Bahamas can lead this movement. Not by asking permission, but by building the infrastructure.
Conclusion: The Shift is Inevitable
This is not just about trade. This is about rewiring the economic power flow.
For too long, both regions have been extraction zones—raw materials, cheap labor, offshore finance—flowing outward, never cycling back.
The cycle ends here.
This is about control. Control of capital, control of supply chains, control of our economic future.
Africa is rising. The Caribbean is evolving. And when these two forces align, the game resets.
The only question that remains is: Who moves first?Ashley Williams is an attorney, strategic visionary, and key figure in the rise of The Bahamas and the founder of WilliamsAdvise.
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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 moreNew 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
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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
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