Caribbean Trade Law and Development

Tag: trade policy

  • Top 6 Trade Policy Developments Affecting the Caribbean in 2019 – Infographic

    Top 6 Trade Policy Developments Affecting the Caribbean in 2019 – Infographic

    Happy New Year all! Are you curious about what were the major trade policy developments affecting the Caribbean in 2019? The Caribbean Trade Law & Development (CTLD) Blog and Barbadian-based logistics company RDL Eagle Trade have collaborated to bring you an infographic highlighting these major developments.

    Click the infographic below to access the full document:

    This infographic was brought to you as a collaboration between the Caribbean Trade Law & Development (CTLD) Blog and RDL Legal Eagle.

  • Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – November 3-9, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – November 3-9, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of November 3-9, 2019! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    China hosted a WTO Mini Ministerial in Shanghai on November 5th. Jamaica was among the countries which attended. Read more here.

    India has opted out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Read more

    Two high level meetings were held in Barbados this week: An Insurance Colloquium with the theme ‘Insurance in the Age of Climate Change‘ hosted by the Government of Barbados and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the 2019 Caribbean Forum: Regional Transformation for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth hosted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Barbados to partner with Suriname for Black Belly Sheep operation

    Barbados Advocate: Local agricultural officials are seeking to partner with their counterparts in Suriname, to facilitate a Black Belly Sheep operation which will see land being utilised in that CARICOM country to increase production of our Black Belly Sheep and to build out the full value chain, where the local industry is concerned. Read more

    Saint Lucia gets help from Argentina to boost honey production, marketing

    IICA: The authorities of Saint Lucia give final touches to the preparations for the next visit of two Argentine experts in the framework of API Caribe, a regional project of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the government of Argentina to boost the beekeeping industry of the Caribbean nations. Read more

    Jamaica Launches Online Investment Guide

    JIS: Jamaica has joined 28 other nations, including several Caribbean states, that have developed online investment guides (iGuides). Read more

    Holness assures China of Jamaica’s cooperation in economic development

    Jamaica Observer: Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday welcomed the opportunity to pair Jamaican minds and aspirations with China’s experience and know-how. Holness said that Jamaica was excited about exploring the possibilities of pairing those assets in areas such as renewable energy, border security, agriculture, health care, and STEM education to achieve sustainability and resilience in its economy. Read more

    New age limit on imported vehicles takes effect

    Jamaica Observer: The new age limit at which motor vehicles can be imported into the island has taken effect. Read more

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Export Largest Single Shipment of Livestock to Grenada

    OECS: The bilateral agri-export agreement between Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to grow from strength to strength. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is set to export a shipment of 100 heads of cattle and 400 pigs to Grenada on November 17, 2019. Read more

    UWITV: The Caribbean/St Vincent election

    Watch the recording of the debate here.

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    As deadline looms, WTO fish subsidy talks get new Colombian chief

    Reuters: World Trade Organization (WTO) member states agreed on Friday to a new chair for talks to end harmful fishing subsidies, though an NGO said it would still take a “Herculean” effort to reach a deal before an end-December deadline. Read more

    India, 16 others complain to WTO about EU’s residue limits for pesticides

    Hindu Business Line: India and sixteen other countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and the US have complained at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the EU decision to amend its policy on the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for a wide range of pesticides mainly used in the cultivation of citrus fruit and bananas. Read more

    Trade and Trade Diversion Effects of United States Tariffs on China

    UNCTAD: The study, Trade and Trade Diversion Effects of United States Tariffs on China, shows that the ongoing US-China trade war has resulted in a sharp decline in bilateral trade, higher prices for consumers and trade diversion effects (increased imports from countries not directly involved in the trade war). Read more

    East Asia Summit: PM Lee calls on regional leaders to update trade rules to keep up with digital economy

    Strait Times: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Nov 4) called on Asean nations and their partners to help write a new rule book on trade to keep up with the rapidly evolving digital economy. Read more

    RCEP trade deal can take effect without India, Thailand confirms

    Nikkei Asian Review: A historic Asia-Pacific trade pact may come into force without one of the biggest participants — a hesitant India — a top Thai official indicated on Friday. Read more

    Passing USMCA by Thanksgiving would be a ‘linchpin’ for global trade, former Trump aide says

    CNBC: Congress must approve the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement in order to provide a linchpin for global trade discussions, according to Rick Dearborn, the former White House deputy chief of staff for policy. Read more

    India, 30 other nations call to protect WTO appellate body at Shanghai meet

    Livemint: India and 30 other countries on Tuesday called for urgently resolving an impasse at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) highest dispute settlement body, which faces being reduced to a one-judge court after 11 December. 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 – August 11 -17, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – August 11 -17, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of August 11-17, 2019! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    HIGHLIGHTS

    ECLAC’s Foreign Direct Investment in the Latin America and Caribbean Report 2019 revealed that while FDI to the entire LAC region increased by 13.2% in 2018 versus 2017, in the Caribbean, inflows shrank by 11.4% due to lower investment in the Dominican Republic ($2.535 billion dollars, -29%). Read the report here.

    The WTO has also reported that the growth of world merchandise trade volumes is likely to remain weak in the third quarter of 2019 according to that organization’s Goods Trade Barometer, released on 15 August. Read more

    It was announced that the UN will be hosting its first ever Trade Forum on September 9-13, 2019 and will be entitled “SDGs and Climate Change”.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    New Customs Act (2019) to promote Jamaica’s socio-economic development

    Jamaica Observer: Arising from a decision of Cabinet in 2017, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) was tasked with the responsibility to develop a new legislative framework which would further promote business opportunities for Jamaica, particularly in the areas of shipping, logistics and international trade. Read more

    Eel Export Tax Jumps from 42¢ to $16.00 per kg

    Haiti Sentinel: A memorandum from the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) dated August 12, 2019 stated that “from now on, the export costs of the eels are set at 1,500 gourdes ($15.77 [USD]) per kilogram.” Read more

    Haiti and Dominican Republic Teaming Up against Cocoa Cultivation Threat

    Haiti Sentinel: Haiti and the Dominican Republic, together with representatives of the private sector of both countries, are working to define and apply a common strategy to prevent an eventual occurrence of moniliasis, a disease that attacks cocoa crops. Read more

    Green welcomes mapping of Jamaica’s cultural, creative industries

    Jamaica Observer: Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, says the Mapping of Cultural and Creative Industries in Jamaica will increase the awareness of the island’s resources and give an accurate valuation of the industries. Read more

    Belize Minister of Investment leads delegation visit to Taiwan

    Breaking Belize News: Minister of State for Investment, Tracy Panton, and an accompanying delegation visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) this week as one of several activities commemorating the 30th anniversary of Belize and Taiwan’s diplomatic relationship. Read more

    Delays at the Port costing Barbados government

    Barbados Today: Goods imported into Barbados take four times as long as they do in neighbouring St Lucia to be cleared, the head of the Port of the Bridgetown has revealed, complaining of the cost of the delay to Government. Read more

    Belize and Republic of China (Taiwan) strengthening ties through new agreement

    Breaking Belize News: Today, the Government of Belize (GOB) and the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (RoC) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to engage in the negotiation of a Partial Scope Agreement (PSA) geared towards formalizing trade relations between the two countries. Read more

    The Bahamas’ Ease of doing business committee satisfied with improvements

    The Nassau Guardian: Chair of the National Ease of Doing Business Committee (EODB) Lynn Holowesko said the committee is very pleased with many of the policies introduced in the 2019/2020 budget aimed at improving the business climate in the country, particularly surrounding immigration, conveyance valuations and estate planning. Read more

    Customs Fraud Fighting Initiative Launched in The Bahamas

    The Bahama Journal: The Bahamas Customs Department and Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest introduced the new online portal Click2 Clear, which is designed to protect against customs fraud. Read more

    Guyana working closer with India to build solar energy capacity

    Kaieteur News: The Head of State noted that the relations between the two countries continue to be enhanced by high-level engagements between officials of both states as Guyana would have signed and ratified the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance in January 2018 under his tenure. Read more

    Chastanet Meets With US Delegation

    The Voice: St Lucia Prime Minister met with representatives of the US House of Representatives. Read more

    CBU President calls for preservation of indigenous broadcasters

    RJR: President of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), Gary Allen has expressed the need for a sincere commitment to the preservation of indigenous broadcasters in recognition of the integral role they play in social and economic development. Read more

    Sugar Association of the Caribbean wants governments to tax sugar coming outside of CARICOM

    Breaking Belize News: The Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) is calling for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations to place Common External Tariffs (CETs) on white sugar imported from outside the region to strengthen the regional market. Read more

    EU releases food for Haiti in response to food crisis

    Jamaica Observer: The European Union (EU) has released €9 million in humanitarian aid to Haiti, in response to the deteriorating food and nutrition situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) member state. Read more

    T&T Prime Minister envisions one border for region as Carifesta begins

    LoopTT: Carifesta XIV opened on Friday night with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley calling for regional unity. Read more

    Time to Fully Implement CSME

    Trinidad Guardian: If ever there was op­por­tu­ni­ty and ne­ces­si­ty for Cari­com coun­tries to ful­ly im­ple­ment the 30-year old Cari­com Sin­gle Mar­ket and Econ­o­my, the “sub­dued glob­al eco­nom­ic ac­tiv­i­ty and glob­al trade” of the present makes it the right “Time for Ac­tion.” Read more

    Caricom’s Assistant Secretary General, CSME is not a dream

    Trinidad Guardian: The CARI­COM sin­gle mar­ket and econ­o­my (CSME) and CARI­COM is not a fan­ta­sy but a con­crete sit­u­a­tion that is mov­ing for­ward. This is ac­cord­ing to CARI­COM’s As­sis­tant Sec­re­tary-Gen­er­al in the Di­rec­torate for Trade and Eco­nom­ic In­te­gra­tion, Joseph Cox. Read more

    Water Scarcity May Be New Way of Life for Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis Minister warns

    CARICOM: Minister of Public Infrastructure, Honourable Ian “Patches” Liburd, says that climate change related challenges such as floods, sea level rise, drought and extreme weather conditions are the new norm for the Caribbean. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Ottawa announces $1.75-billion compensation for dairy farmers to offset impact of trade deals

    Financial Post: Agriculture minister says Liberals are committed to no longer cede market share in the dairy sector in future international free trade negotiations. Read more

    Australian Government releases list of items the EU wants protected in free trade deal

    News.au: Australian cheesemakers could be dealt a major blow as the European Union targets the naming rights to some of the most popular products. Read more

    Cambodia-European Union trade deal is on the chopping block

    Al Jazeera: Accusations of human rights abuse by the Cambodian government may force the end of a preferential trade agreement. Read more

    Brazil’s Guedes threatens to quit Mercosur if populist opposition wins Argentina election

    Reuters: Brazil will pull out of the Mercosur trade bloc if the opposition party wins Argentina’s presidential elections later this year and closes the economy with protectionist policies, Brazil’s Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said on Thursday. Read more

    US retailers to rely on Vietnam amidst exits from China’s textile industry

    Singapore Business Review: Vietnam’s textile sourcing rose 13% YoY in Q1 2019.Vietnam is expected to benefit the most from plans by US retailers to diversify production to other manufacturing hubs and reduce reliance on China for their textile needs, according to a Fitch Solutions report. Read more

    India’s export basket skews towards services, pulls down trade deficit

    Livemint: India’s export basket is undergoing a silent transformation, a trend that explains why the services sector, which accounts for about half of India’s gross domestic product (GDP), is doing better than other segments of the economy. Read more

    US-China trade war hits Africa’s cobalt and copper mines with 4,400 jobs expected to vanish

    South China Morning Post: The US-China trade war is partly to blame for Anglo-Swiss mining giant Glencore’s move to shut a cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo and copper mining shafts in Zambia, with the probable loss of about 4,400 jobs, analysts say. Read more

    China Makes Up US Trade War Deficit by Buying from ASEAN, Belt and Road Countries

    China Briefing: China is balancing the US trade slowdown with more bilateral trade with ASEAN and Belt and Road Initiative countries. Read more

    US-UK trade pact ‘won’t pass Congress if Good Friday deal undermined’

    Euronews: There is no chance that a trade agreement between the United States and Britain will pass Congress if Brexit undermines the Good Friday peace accord between Ireland and Northern Ireland, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday. Read more

    UK ‘first in line’ for US trade deal, says John Bolton

    BBC: The UK is “first in line” for a trade deal with the US, President Trump’s national security adviser has said. John Bolton said the US supported a no-deal Brexit and added Washington would propose an accelerated series of trade deals. Read more

    Norway Freezes Support For Amazon Fund: EU/Brazil Trade Deal At Risk? – Analysis

    Eurasia Review: Ola Elvestrun, Norway’s environment minister, announced Thursday that it is freezing its contributions to the Amazon Fund, and will no longer be transferring 300 million Norwegian Krone (US$33.2 million) to Brazil. Read more

    Nigerian Traders Seek National Assembly’s Ratification of AfCFTA Agreement

    AllAfrica: The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has advised the National Assembly to urgently ratify the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to ensure its speedy implementation. Read more

    Ghana is best entry point for foreign investors to Africa – Trade Minister

    Ghanaweb: Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry, has said that Ghana is the best entry point for foreign investors to do business in Africa because of its investor-friendly policies. Read more

    Sadc launches Business Council

    The Chronicle: Southern African Development Community (Sadc) has officially launched a new Business Council, an over-arching regional private sector platform aimed at increasing collaboration with the public sector and accelerating regional economic development and industrialisation. Read more

    Brexit: judge fast-tracks challenge to stop Johnson forcing no deal

    The Guardian: Hearing in Edinburgh to block suspension of parliament backed by more than 70 MPs. Read more

    EU’s Juncker tells Britain: no-deal Brexit will hurt you the most

    EURACTIV: A no-deal Brexit would hurt Britain more than the rest of Europe no matter how much Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government pretends otherwise, outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in remarks published on Saturday (10 August). Read more

    US and Britain discuss trade deal that could take effect on 1 November

    EURACTIV: Britain and the United States are discussing a partial trade accord that could take effect on 1 November, the day after Britain is due to leave the European Union, a senior Trump administration official said on Tuesday (13 August). Read more

    Trump threatens to pull out of WTO

    WTO: At the site of an under-construction petrochemicals plant in Monaco, Pa., for a speech Tuesday that was to be about energy policy, Trump said that the United States has been taken advantage of by WTO member states, especially China, for too long — and it was about to stop. Read more

    ‘India, China No Longer Developing Nations, Will Not Let Them Take Advantage’: Trump Flays WTO Status

    News 18: Earlier in July, Trump asked the WTO to define how it designates developing-country status, a move apparently aimed at singling out countries like China, Turkey and India which are getting lenient treatment under the global trade rules. Read more

    India’s seafood exports to EU to be hit after Vietnam-EU free trade pact

    Hindu Business Line: India’s seafood exports to the European Union is set to drop sharply this year after its biggest competitor Vietnam signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Bloc in July that helps it export products to the EU without any customs duty, according to the Maharashtra region head of the seafood exporters body. Read more

    US-China trade war — The unlikely European winners

    Deutsche Welle: The imminent US tariffs on Chinese goods are expected to throw up some unexpected winners in Europe, a study shows. The gains for the European countries are only likely to increase if China chooses to retaliate. Read more

    European Commission proposes adjustments to the existing safeguards for steel

    EU: The Commission today presented a proposal for adjustments to the existing safeguard measures for steel. Read more

    South Korea hits back at Japan in WW2 dispute

    BBC: South Korea has said it will take Japan off its favoured trade partners’ list. Read more

    WTO NEWS

    NEW ON CTLD BLOG

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

  • Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – May 19-25, 2019

    Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest – May 19-25, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week of May 19-25, 2019! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S TRADE HIGHLIGHTS

    On the Brexit front, the biggest, but not entirely shocking news for the week was the announcement by UK Prime Minister Theresa May that she will be stepping down from office on June 7, 2019. Her full resignation speech may be viewed here.

    The OECD in its latest Economic Outlook noted the impact of the global trade tensions on the global economy. Access the press release and the report here.

    Looking regionally, Trinidad & Tobago this week underwent its 4th WTO Trade Policy Review. Read more here.

    REGIONAL TRADE NEWS

    Barbados approves importation of medical cannabis

    Caribbean News Now: The ministry of health and wellness has approved five medicinal marijuana drugs submitted by the drug formulary committee to be placed on the National Drug Formulary. The drugs will be imported by the Barbados Drug Service. Read more

    Grenada real estate resale changes spur CBI market freehold, leasehold, trust certificates qualify for resale

    Caribbean News Now: The government of Grenada’s re-alignment of the minimum investment requirement for the real estate option (for certain developments) of the country’s citizenship by investment (CBI) program from US$350,000 to US$220,000 has spurred the market, say experts. Read more

    Caribbean leaders will lead on climate resilience – PM Mitchell in CNN opinion

    CARICOM Today: Grenada and other Small Island Developing States are on the front line in the war against climate change. Although hurricanes are no stranger to the Caribbean, the overwhelming scientific evidence of how extreme weather conditions are worsening due to global warming shows that we need to take the signals that our Earth is sending us seriously. Read more

    BELTRAIDE hosts 1st SHEMentors Networking Event

    Breaking Belize News: The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) through support from the Regional Center of Promotion for MSME (CENPROMYPE) is hosting a women’s mentorship networking event today in Belize city. Read more

    Minister of Trade speaks on expansion of Freezone

    LoveFM: The Corozal Freezone has not really been the “talk of the town,” and, in fact, is in dire need of some TLC. The Freezone has not been forgotten, however, as there are big plans in the making to not only expand but also to revamp it. Minister of Trade, Tracy Taegar-Panton, met with the Freezone’s board of director last Friday, and today, she told us more about what was discussed. Read more

    EU Statement at the 4th Trade Policy Review of Trinidad and Tobago, 22 May 2019

    EU: On behalf of the European Union I would like to welcome Trinidad and Tobago’s Delegation, led by H.E. Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry and the Discussant, H.E. Mr. Michael Gaffey (Ireland), for his introductory words. Read more

    Trade and Industry advocates for small economies at the WTO

    MTI: Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon expressed a need for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to adopt a pragmatic approach that takes due cognizance of the unique issues of Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs). Read more

    Stop The Wto ‘Scare Tactics’

    Tribune242: Carey Leonard, the former Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) in-house counsel, told Tribune Business there was plentiful evidence from elsewhere in the Caribbean to prove that small businesses and ‘Mom and Pop’ stores “will not be wiped out” upon this country becoming a World Trade Organisation (WTO). Read more

    Exporting Caribbean fashion

    Newsday: Young fashion designers from TT, Grenada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St Lucia and Tortola – to name a few – have been brought together for the Fashion and Contemporary Design Accelerator, which participants said left them feeling empowered and ready to contribute to building a stronger regional fashion industry. Read more

    UNCTAD holds training in Belize

    LoveFM: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, is in the country holding a one-week workshop to assist with the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement. The Trade Facilitation Agreement will provide for a smoother and more efficient movement of goods. Read more

    Jamaica representing the Caribbean in global food fraud fight

    Loop Jamaica: Jamaica is the only Caribbean country to be included in an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) five-year research project that is geared at assisting countries in combatting fraud in high-value food products, such as premium honey, coffee and speciality rice varieties. Read more

    Over 42,000 Caribbean nationals overstayed their non-immigrant US visas

    Caribbean News Now: Acting Homeland Secretary, Kevin Mc Aleenan revealed that over 42,000 Caribbean nationals from across the region overstayed their non-immigrant visas and stayed in the US between October 2017 and September 2018. This figure is contained in the US Department of Homeland Security’s (DSH) fiscal year 2018 entry/exit overstay report. Read more

    US Senators submit act to facilitate agricultural exports to Cuba

    Caribbean News Now: US Senators John Boozman and Michael Bennet submitted a draft bill to remove restrictions to private financing for US agricultural exports to Cuba. Read more

    Building Bonds

    Barbados Advocate: The Association of Barbados-China Friendship (ABCF) has been launched in an effort to create and strengthen the bond between Chinese and Barbadians. During the launch, which took place at the Hilton Resort Barbados on Thursday night, President of the ABCF Dr. Delisle Worrell noted that it is a “people-centred organisation with an emphasis on facilitating personal contacts between Barbadians and Chinese”. Read more

    Region lags global shipping trends

    Barbados Today: Barbados and the Caribbean appear to be lagging behind most of the world in using the global postal system’s Express Mail Service (EMS) to boost exports through e-commerce and small package deliveries, experts said here today. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    Rare Earths, the U.S.-China Trade War and Your Phone

    Washington Post: U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off the supply of chips and processors to Huawei Technologies Co. is hitting China’s biggest tech company where it hurts – its dependence on other nations for the semiconductors and software in smartphones and networking gear. So when Chinese President Xi Jinping showed up days later at a rare earths processing plant, many observers saw a message in the visit: the U.S. has its own tech vulnerabilities, too. Read more

    EU-ACP Pleased With Negotiations For Successor To Cotonou Agreement

    Jamaica Gleaner: The European Union says a new accord to replace the Cotonou Agreement that currently governs its relationship with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group is “taking shape”. Read more

    79-Nation Group’s Head Explains Vital Tasks Ahead Until ACP-EU Accord Expires

    IndepthNews: As talks progress on future relations between 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the European Union in the aftermath of historic Cotonou Agreement due to expire in February 2020, Secretary-General Dr. Patrick Ignatius Gomes has spelt out vital tasks ahead. Read more

    Nigeria to Join Africa Free Trade Zone, Trade Minister Says

    Bloomberg: Nigeria will sign the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement as soon as President Muhammadu Buhari approves an impact-assessment report he asked for, the country’s trade minister said. Read more

    The Impact of US-China Trade Tensions

    IMF Blog: US-China trade tensions have negatively affected consumers as well as many producers in both countries. The tariffs have reduced trade between the US and China, but the bilateral trade deficit remains broadly unchanged. Read more

    National Consultative Forum On the African Continental Free Trade Area – Experts to Discuss Corruption and the Challenge of Economic Transformation in Southern Africa

    All Africa: The Economic Commission for Africa Office for Southern Africa (ECA-SA) in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, African Union Commission (AUC), are co-organising a National Consultative Forum; “National Consultative Forum on the African continental free trade area: Opportunities and Challenges for Zambia” from 23rd – 24th May 2019, at Mulungushi Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. Read more

    EU WARNED: Brussels told to be READY for no deal Brexit – ‘Britain will do just fine!’

    Express: THE European Union has been warned if it does not renegotiate the Brexit deal then Britain will instead “thrive and prosper” under a no deal scenario, political commentator Nile Gardiner has warned. Read more

    The world’s biggest shipping company warns Trump’s China tariffs are hammering global trade

    Business Insider: AP Moller-Maersk warned the recent escalation of the trade war could push growth in global container trade to the lower end of its forecast of 1% to 3% for 2019. Read more

    What next for Brexit Britain as May announces resignation as PM?

    Al Jazeera: The country’s future and whether or not it will leave the EU are thrown into further uncertainty after May resigns. Read more

    One-third of EU firms hit hard by US-China trade war

    Deutsche Welle: The ongoing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies and tit-for-tat tariffs have adversely affected the fortunes of many European companies in China, a new survey reveals. The outlook remains gloomy. Read more

    EU trade tsar on US: ‘We hope we don’t impose tariffs on each other’

    Euronews: As EU-US trade ties remain shaky under the constant threat of tit-for-tat tariffs and rumblings of a trade war, Euronews sat down with EU trade tsar Cecilia Malmstrom to talk about the state of play. Read more

    EU, China, Thailand seek to join WTO consultation over India’s ICT products tariff
    Business Today: According to a communication of EU, China, and Thailand to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), these countries claimed that they have a substantial interest in the trade of information and communication technology (ICT) goods and in joining the consultation process. Read more

    US-China trade war hurts workers with lower salaries the most, WTO director says

    CNBC: An intensifying trade war between the U.S. and China is negatively impacting every country in the world, according to the director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), with workers earning lower salaries most likely to be hit the hardest. Read more

    Dispute over WTO reforms could paralyse it, says Canada
    Business Live: Absence of US and China at the latest round of talks to renew the world trade body dashes hopes of urgent action. Read more

    India on US watch list for currency practices

    Economic Times: The US has added India to its monitoring list for currency practices and macroeconomic policies, alleging undervaluation in its currency. Read more

    China’s coming slowdown opens doors to expanding African trade with India

    The Africa Report: Charles Robertson, chief economist at Renaissance Capital, argues that slower Chinese growth will not necessarily be detrimental for Africa, as Indian trade and investment is likely to increase. Indian demand for raw materials is likely to benefit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Guinea and Zambia, he says. Read more

    India reports trade deficit with 11 RCEP members in FY 2018-19

    Business Standard: The trade gap with Brunei, Japan, and Malaysia has increased to $0.5 billion, $7.1 billion and $3.8 billion, respectively in the last fiscal. It was $0.4 billion, $6.2 billion and $3.3 billion in 2017. Read more

    Malaysia to strengthen trade, investment ties with Brazil

    Malay Mail: Malaysia and Brazil will continue to focus on expanding bilateral trade and investment ties.This is alongside the possibility of having a free trade agreement between Malaysia and Mercosur, an economic and political bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Read more

    Canada, U.S. reach deal to continue pork trade if swine fever is detected

    Global News: In the event of an outbreak of African swine fever in Canada or the U.S., pork products from disease-free areas will still be allowed to flow across the border.An agreement reached between the two countries is intended to limit the economic impact of a possible outbreak of ASF, an illness that has led to the deaths of a million pigs in China but has not been detected in Canada or the U.S. Read more

    Mexico’s Lopez Obrador says confident USMCA will be ratified

    Reuters: Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday he was confident the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement would be ratified, increasing trade in the North American region. Read more

    Turkey halves tariffs on 22 US imports to reciprocate Washington move

    Daily Sabah: Turkey has decided to reduce additional duties on some U.S. imports in response to a similar United States move to halve tariffs on Turkish steel imports, the trade minister said on Wednesday. Read more

    Chinese AI firms hunker down as reports indicate they are next on US export hit list

    The Edge Markets: iFlytek executive Hu Yu may have spoken too soon, when he made a positive comparison of his company to Huawei Technologies during a new product launch in Shanghai earlier this week. Read more

    WTO NEWS

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