Caribbean Trade Law and Development

Tag: trade

  • Caribbean Trade and Development Digest – January 13 – 19, 2019

    Caribbean Trade and Development Digest – January 13 – 19, 2019

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development Digest for the week of January 13-19, 2019! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    Brexit turbulence has dominated the headlines for yet another week. British MPs, as expected, voted against the current Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May’s government with the EU. With 432 votes against, versus just 202 in favour of the deal, it was the biggest legislative loss for a British Government in modern British history. Coupled with narrowly surviving a no confidence motion brought by the Leader of the main opposition, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, Prime Minister May now has three days  (until Monday) to bring a ‘Brexit Plan B’ to Parliament.

    On January 19, 2018, the eleven parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) held their first ministerial meeting since its entry into force on December 30, 2018, in Japan this week.

    Below are the other major trade and development headlines from across the Caribbean region and the world for last week:

    REGIONAL

    Trump weighs dramatic tightening of embargo on Cuba

    Associated Press: The Trump administration is weighing what could become the most serious tightening of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba in more than two decades — a move that could unleash a flurry of lawsuits against foreign companies that have invested on the island. Read more 

    Shaw wants more aggressive approach to trade facilitation programme

    Jamaica Observer: Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Audley Shaw has called on Government agencies and departments to move with a greater sense of urgency to facilitate trade and the private sector’s need for a more responsive Government. Read more

    Cuba, Iran to improve trade relations

    Prensa Latina: The 17th Session of the Cuba-Iran Intergovernmental Commission, whose main goal is to expand collaboration on various economic and social areas, has concluded on Wednesday in Havana. Read more 

    Antigua & Barbuda hit visitor arrival record 

    Caribbean360: Antigua and Barbuda welcomed over one million visitors to the destination in 2018, topping 2017 figures and leading Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez to call 2018, “a record-setting year” for the twin-island nation. Read more

    Correspondent banking still an issue for CARICOM

    Love FM (Belize): Plaguing Belize and other Caribbean countries is the issue of correspondent banking, CARICOM along with groups have been lobbying for restored relations. Read more

    Jamaica says buy-back of Petrojam shares not a CARICOM issue

    Jamaica Observer: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith has dismissed Opposition criticisms that the Government has not involved the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in its negotiation of a buy-back of the 49 per cent shares in Petrojam from Venezuela. Read more 

    Gopee-Scoon: TT preparing for Brexit

    Newsday: Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon on Wednesday said TT was doing what it could to deal with the outcome of the Brexit process in the UK. Read more

    PM: OAS vote on Venezuela was in Trinidad’s interest

    Newsday: The Prime Minister says the decision to abstain on a vote by the Organisation of American States to not recognise the legitimacy of the presidency of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was done in the country’s interest. Read more 

    Trinidad & Tobago Rice production plummets 97%

    Newsday: LOCAL rice production has plummeted about 97 per cent in the past 26 years and 95 per cent of what is currently produced is used as input for animal feed. Read more

    Jamaica exports grew 17.6% in Q1 2018

    Jamaica Gleaner: Exports of Jamaica increased 17.6 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018, according to an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report which said that sales from Latin America and the Caribbean to overseas markets were the highest in six years. Read more

    Arley Gill to be Grenada’s new ambassador to CARICOM

    Now Grenada: Arley Gill is nominated to be Grenada’s new ambassador to CARICOM. Read more

    IDB: Latin America, Caribbean register highest exports in six years 

    Jamaica Gleaner: The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says exports from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Jamaica, hit their highest level in six years as a result of a 9.9 per cent increase in 2018, albeit amid growing downside risks in the future. Read more 

    INTERNATIONAL

    These are the biggest risks to the global economy in 2019

    World Economic Forum: Major risks include a growth recession in China, a rise in global long-term real interest rates, and a crescendo of populist economic policies that undermine the credibility of central bank independence, resulting in higher interest rates on safe, advanced-country government bonds. Read more 

    Expansion of Pacific trade deal discussed at ministerial meeting in Tokyo

    Japan Times: The 11 members of a trans-Pacific free trade agreement on Saturday held their first ministerial meeting since the pact entered into force, discussing its future expansion as well as how to counter the rise of protectionism. Read more 

    China Offers a Path to Eliminate U.S. Trade Imbalance, Sources Say

    Bloomberg: China has offered to go on a six-year buying spree to ramp up imports from the U.S., in a move that would reconfigure the relationship between the world’s two largest economies, according to officials familiar with the negotiations. Read more 

    Malaysia hopes for RCEP to finalise by end-2019

    New Strait Times: Malaysia hopes to conclude talks with other Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member countries by the end of this year. Read more 

    CPTPP members signal intent to expand the agreement

    Strait Times: Members of a landmark 11-nation Pacific Rim trade deal have signalled their openness to expand the agreement by taking in new members to form a stronger united front against the rise of protectionism. Read more 

    Climate change clouds Australia’s Pacific charm offensive 

    ABS-CBN: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Pacific charm offensive went off course on Friday when he was forced to defend Fiji’s accusations of inaction over climate change.  Read more

    India keen on closer trade ties with neighbours

    Daily Star: India is keenly promoting the trade potential of its northeastern states because it would not only give an economic boost to the region but also enable closer engagement with Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan. Read more

    Can ASEAN cope with the trade war?

    Strait Times: Asean is facing a prolonged period of heightened United States-China competition and, hence, of greater uncertainty. The most obvious manifestation of this new phase in relations between the two nations is the so-called “trade war”. Read more

    Trudeau’s U.S. Envoy Confident on USMCA Passage, Tariff Relief

    Bloomberg: Canada’s ambassador to Washington is confident that the U.S. will both pass the revised North American trade deal and lift tariffs on steel and aluminum. Read more 

    New trade agreements secure Australian exports to Britain post-Brexit

    Sydney Morning Herald: Australia and Britain have signed a new bilateral Wine Agreement and Mutual Recognition Agreement overnight in London, which will help ensure the continued flow of trade post-Brexit. Read more 

    Lifting trade barriers key to Africa’s economic emergence, DP World chairman says

    The National: DP World’s chairman urged African leaders to lift barriers on trade after the global ports operator last year pushed to expand its footprint in the continent where it faces some opposition to its operations. Read more 

    AfCFTA seeks to increase intra-Africa trade

    KBC (Kenya): African states are nearing the threshold of 22 countries to help operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Read more 

    Vietnam-Africa trade reaches US$6.6 million in 2018

    Nhan Dan Online: Bilateral trade between Vietnam and African nations hit US$6.6 billion in 2018, with Vietnam’s exports worth US$3 billion, up 10% from the previous year. Read more 

    Voters would back remaining in EU over May’s Brexit deal

    The Guardian: Opinium poll for the Observer finds only 35% of voters would back Theresa May’s deal if remain was an option. Read more 

    Brexit; Theresa May’s deal is voted down in historic defeat 

    BBC: Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal has been rejected by 230 votes – the largest defeat for a sitting government in history. MPs voted by 432 votes to 202 to reject the deal, which sets out the terms of Britain’s exit from the EU on 29 March. Read more

    Theresa May survives vote, Britain remains in Brexit deadlock

    The Guardian: Theresa May has survived as prime minister after weathering a dramatic no-confidence vote in her government, but was left scrambling to strike a Brexit compromise that could secure the backing of parliament. Read more 

    May scrambles to agree plan B for Brexit ahead of deadline

    Sky News: The PM will meet with cabinet ministers at her Chequers retreat but has until Monday to come up with a new plan for Brexit. Read more

    Amazon warns UK sellers to prepare for no-deal Brexit disruption to deliveries

    Independent: Amazon has warned UK businesses trading through its online marketplace to prepare for a no-deal Brexit or risk not being able to sell to customers in the EU. Read more 

    Brexit: Liam Fox yet to seal no-deal trade agreements

    BBC: The UK has yet to finalise agreements to replace existing free trade deals the EU has with 40 big economies if there is a no-deal Brexit. Read more 

    The EU moves forward efforts at UN on multilateral reform of ISDS

    EU: Today, the EU and its Member States submitted two papers to the UN Working Group under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). The Working Group has been tasked with examining reform of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). Read more 

    EU-US Trade Talks: European Commission presents draft negotiating mandates

    EU: The European Commission has today adopted proposals for negotiating directives for its trade talks with the United States: one on conformity assessment, and one on the elimination of tariffs for industrial goods. Read more 

    EU imposes safeguard measures on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar

    EU: An investigation has confirmed a significant increase of imports of Indica rice from Cambodia and Myanmar into the European Union that has caused economic damage to European producers. The European Commission has therefore decided today to re-introduce import duties that will be steadily reduced over a period of three years. Read more

    EU Chief Negotiator updates civil society on the state of play of negotiations with Mercosur

    EU: On Tuesday 15 January the European Commission held a meeting with civil society representatives on the state of play of trade negotiations between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). Read more 

    EU requests bilateral dispute settlement consultations with Ukraine over wood export ban

    EU: The EU has formally requested consultations with Ukraine under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement on Ukraine’s export ban on unprocessed wood. Read more 

    European Commission set to adopt definitive safeguard measures on imports of steel

    EU: The European Commission welcomes the support received yesterday from Member States to its plan to impose definitive safeguard measures on imports of steel. Read more 

    WTO NEWS 

    General Council Chair appoints facilitator to address disagreement on Appellate Body

    WTO: General Council Chair Junichi Ihara of Japan has appointed Amb. David Walker of New Zealand to assist him in working with WTO members to resolve differences on the urgent matter of the functioning of the organization’s Appellate Body. Read more

    Venezuela initiates WTO dispute case against Colombia regarding liquid fuel restrictions

    WTO: Venezuela has requested WTO dispute consultations with Colombia regarding certain Colombian measures affecting the distribution of liquid fuels. Venezuela’s request was circulated to WTO members on 14 January. Read more 

    Members review US request for panel on Turkish duties, adopt rulings on Brazil tax, US tuna

    WTO: At a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 11 January, WTO members considered a request from the United States for the establishment of a panel to rule on additional duties levied by Turkey on certain US imports. WTO members also formally adopted panel and Appellate Body rulings concerning tax measures in Brazil used to promote domestic production of automotive and high-tech goods as well as revised US “dolphin-safe” tuna labelling requirements. Read more 

    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 follow our blog.

  • Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – December 9-16, 2018 (Final for 2018)

    Caribbean Trade & Development Digest – December 9-16, 2018 (Final for 2018)

    Welcome to the final Caribbean Trade & Development Digest for 2018! We are happy to bring you the latest trade and development news and analysis for the week of December 9-16, 2018! 

    As this will be our last edition for 2018, we take this opportunity to thank you for your readership over the past year and to wish you and yours the very best for the season! 

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    At COP24, nearly 200 countries have reached an agreement on the implementing guidelines – the ‘Rulebook’ –  for the operationalization of the Paris Agreement (2015). This agreement came on Saturday night, a day after the two week UN Climate Talks were scheduled to end.

    The Brexit saga continued. UK Prime Minister Theresa May postponed a scheduled vote on her draft Withdrawal Agreement with the EU in the face of fervent political opposition, survived a confidence vote and  has been thus far unable to win additional concessions from the EU to placate MPs’ fears about the Withdrawal Agreement.

    See my article with Dr. Jan Yves Remy, Deputy Director of the University of the West Indies’ Shridath Ramphal Centre, analysing what these latest Brexit political headwinds mean for CARIFORUM-UK trading relations!

    Below are the other major trade and development headlines from across the Caribbean region and the world for last week:

    REGIONAL

    Antigua-Barbuda calls on WTO to reform dispute settlement body

    Caribbean News Now: Antigua and Barbuda has officially intervened in the ongoing discussions concerning the reform of the Dispute Settlement Understanding of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Read more 

    Barbados Ambassador to Geneva sounds warning

    CBC (Barbados): Ambassador Blackman was addressing the WTO’s General Council Meeting. He told the body Barbados continues to believe in the WTO’s rules based trading system, but the country remains concerned about the impasse in the selection process for Appellate Body members. Read more 

    St Vincent becomes first OECS island to decriminalise marijuana

    LoopT&T: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has made history as the first OECS Member State to decriminalise marijuana for medical purposes and scientific research. Read more 

    CARICOM to review intra-regional transportation

    LoopBarbados: Come next year, the Caribbean region will see a host of new measures, including improved intra-regional transportation. Read more 

    Antigua Asks For Delay In Further Free Movement, Says It Already Has Large Numbers Of CARICOM Nationals

    Antigua News Room: The Government of Antigua and Barbuda says it has asked to be excluded, for now from implementing measures under Caricom which would see free movement of more classes of people. Read more

    CARICOM Secretary General holds talks with Aruba on associate membership

    TV6 (Trinidad): The  Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque  on Wednesday met with Prime Minister of Aruba Hon Evelyn Wever-Croes on Associate Membership in the 15 member regional grouping – the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)  for the Dutch Territory. Read more 

    Regional Statement on the IPCC Special Report 

    CARICOM Today: CARICOM ministers with responsibility for addressing climate change released a statement on the IPCC’s Special Report. Read more 

    Belize accepts chairmanship of AOSIS

    CARICOM: Belize’s acceptance of the chairmanship of AOSIS from the Maldives in January 2019. Belize will hold the chairmanship for two years to be followed by Antigua and Barbuda in 2021. Read more 

    INTERNATIONAL

    UK and Switzerland agree to transition trade agreement after Brexit

    UK Government: The UK Government and the Swiss Federal Council have approved the transition of a trade agreement, allowing businesses to continue trading freely after the UK leaves the European Union. Read more 

    Commission reports on trade negotiations with Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia

    EU: As part of its commitment to transparency, the European Commission published today a report from the latest round of negotiations between the EU and Australia, as well as the EU’s six initial text proposals tabled during this round. Read more 

    U.S. Rejects the EU’s Trade Reform Proposal, Putting WTO at Risk

    Bloomberg: The U.S. rejected the European Union’s proposal to reform the World Trade Organization, dealing a blow to international efforts to bolster the Geneva-based body, which has come under attack from President Donald Trump’s administration. Read more 

    EU-Japan trade agreement on track to enter into force in February 2019

    EU: The European Commission welcomes today’s approval in the European Parliament of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and the EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement. Read more

    China buys US soybeans for first time since trade war

    BBC: China has bought US soybeans for the first time since the trade war between the two countries started in July. The country’s finance ministry also confirmed it would temporarily reduce tariffs on US car imports from 40% to 15%, beginning on 1 January. Read more 

    Shipping costs from China to the US have more than doubled as trade war sparks a ‘bonanza’

    CNBC: The price of shipping a container from China to the United States has risen dramatically in the last year due to uncertainty surrounding trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Read more 

    AEC pushes for an inclusive African Continental Free-Trade Agreement

    African Review: A successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement cannot be achieved without the “people dimension,” ensuring that the integration process does not lead to widening inequalities or exclusion, the AEC Forum observed. Read more 

    Appellate Body issues report on revised US “dolphin-safe” tuna labelling measure

    WTO: On 14 December the Appellate Body issued its report in the cases brought by Mexico and the United States in “United States — Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products — Second Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Mexico” (DS381). Read more 

    India appeals panel ruling in dispute with Japan over safeguard duties on steel products

    WTO: India filed an appeal on 14 December concerning the WTO panel report in the case brought by Japan in “India — Certain Measures on Imports of Iron and Steel Products” (DS518). The panel report was circulated to WTO members on 6 November. Read more 

    Appellate Body issues report regarding Brazil tax measures

    WTO: On 13 December the Appellate Body issued its report in the cases by the European Union and Japan in “Brazil — Certain Measures Concerning Taxation and Charges” (DS472 and DS497). Read more

    Trade Policy Review Body: Overview of developments in the international trading environment

    WTO: Speech by WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo. Read more.

    WTO-World Bank joint publication highlights need for policies to maximize trade gains for extreme poor

    WTO: Trade has made a significant contribution to poverty reduction but further integration of developing countries into international markets and policies to share the gains from trade more widely will be essential for further reducing poverty and ensuring that no one is left behind, according to a joint publication by the World Bank Group and the World Trade Organization launched today (11 December). Read more 

    Report shows sharp rise in the coverage of trade-restrictive measures from WTO members

    WTO: The Director-General’s annual overview on trade-related developments presented to members on 11 December at a meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) shows a significant increase in trade coverage of trade restrictive measures by WTO members from mid-October 2017 to mid-October 2018. Read more

    EU parliament approves huge free trade deal with Japan

    Japan Today: The European Parliament on Wednesday approved an accord with Japan that has been dubbed the world’s biggest trade deal, covering economies that represent a third of the world’s GDP. Read more

    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 follow our blog.

  • Eight Key Outcomes from the St. Anns Declaration on CSME

    Alicia Nicholls

    Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government met from December 3-4, 2018, in Port of Spain, Trinidad last week for the 18th Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM which was a special meeting on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

    The CSME envisions deepened economic integration among participating CARICOM Member States by creating a single economic space for the free movement of Community goods, services, capital and labour, with the aim of promoting economic development and increased well-being of Community nationals. All independent CARICOM Member States, except the Bahamas, are part of the CSME, while Haiti is not yet a full participant.

    Progress towards implementation of the CSME has been painstakingly slow, a point noted in numerous reports commissioned to look at this issue, including the Jamaica-government commissioned Golding Commission Report released earlier this year which examined Jamaica’s relations within the CARICOM and CARIFORUM frameworks.

    At the end of the special CSME meeting last week, CARICOM leaders released their St. Ann’s Declaration on CSME in which they recommitted to the regional integration process and outlined several priority areas for immediate action, including setting timelines for some action areas.

    Based on the St. Ann’s Declaration on CSME, here are eight key outcomes from the CSME Special Meeting:

    1.Recommitment to national action to further CSME implementation

    CARICOM leaders recommitted to take action at the national level to advance the regional integration agenda. In their preamble to the Declaration, they reiterated that the CSME “continues to be the most viable platform for supporting growth and development” in CARICOM Member States, but acknowledged that progress on the CSME should have been further advanced by now. They welcomed Haiti’s commitment to full integration into the CSME by 2020.

    2.Greater voice for private sector and labour

    CARICOM leaders have agreed to establish a formalised and structured mechanism to facilitate dialogue between the Councils of the Community and the private sector and labour. They also agreed to amend the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to include representative bodies of the regional private sector and labour as Associate Institutions of the Community.

    3. Full Free Movement in 3 years (for willing Member States)

    CARICOM leaders have set a timeline of the next three years for those Member States which are willing to do so to move towards full free movement. The leaders have also agreed to reinforce the operation of their security mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the regime allowing the free movement of CARICOM nationals.

    4. Expansion of categories of skilled nationals entitled to move

    Agricultural Workers, Beauty Service Practitioners, Barbers and Security Guards will be added to the categories of skilled nationals who are entitled to move freely and seek employment within the Community.

    CARICOM leaders also reiterated that a skills certificate issued by one Member State would be recognised by all Member States. They also agreed to complete domestic legislative and other arrangements for all categories of free movement of skilled persons.

    5. Greater CARICOM-OECS collaboration

    They have mandated that steps be taken to deepen cooperation and collaboration between the Secretariats of CARICOM and the OECS “to avoid duplication and maximise the utility of scarce resources”.

    6. Single Domestic Space for passengers in the Region

    CARICOM leaders agreed to examine the re-introduction of the single domestic space for passengers in the Region and agreed to work towards having a single security check for direct transit passengers on multi-stop intra-Community flights. They also agreed to conduct a special session on Air and Maritime Transportation at the Intersessional meeting of the Conference to be held next February to focus on this matter.

    7. Public Procurement and Mutual Recognition of Member States’ incorporated companies

    CARICOM leaders set a timeline of 2019 for the finalization of the regime that permits citizens and companies of the Community to participate in Member States’ government procurement processes. They also agreed to take the necessary steps to allow for mutual recognition of companies incorporated in a CARICOM Member State.

    8. Restructured Commission on the Economy

    CARICOM leaders have restructured the Commission on the Economy to advise Member States on a growth agenda for the Community. Leading Barbadian-UK economist, Professor Avinash Persaud, has been appointed to lead this restructured commission, while its nine other members include distinguished regional and international persons.

    The text of the St Ann’s Declaration on CSME may be viewed here.

    Alicia Nicholls, B.Sc., M.Sc., LL.B., is an international trade and development consultant with a keen interest in sustainable development, international law and trade. You can also read more of her commentaries and follow her on Twitter @LicyLaw.

  • Caribbean Trade and Development Digest – December 2-8, 2018

    Caribbean Trade and Development Digest – December 2-8, 2018

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development Digest for the week of December 2-8, 2018! We are happy to bring you the major trade and development headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    This week, CARICOM Heads of Government held a Special Session on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) in Port of Spain, Trinidad. They issued the St. Ann’s Declaration on CSME in which they recommitted to the process of CSME implementation and outlined some key priority areas for implementation.

    The CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) has indicated that it is closely monitoring the proposed sale of Scotia Bank’s operations in several Caribbean jurisdictions to the Trinidad-based Republic Financial Group Ltd. Read the CCC’s full statement here.

    Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and parliamentarians from ACP countries held their  36th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Cotonou, Benin. They adopted several resolutions, including their Declaration of the Co-Presidents on Post-Cotonou Negotiations on the occasion of the meeting of the 36th Joint Parliamentary Assembly

    Below we share the other major trade and development headlines from across the Caribbean region and the world for last week:

    REGIONAL

    CARICOM to open government procurement to regional companies

    LoopBarbados: A portal called CIMSuPro – the CARICOM Interactive Marketplace and Suspension Procedure – will be established as a managed market place for CARICOM companies to post their raw material, goods and services.  It would be made available to regional and global purchasers. Read more

    More Categories of Workers to Be Granted Free Movement Within CARICOM

    Caribbean360: More Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals are to be allowed to seek work in fellow member states, it has been revealed, as CARICOM leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the vision of free movement and a shared market space. Read more

    CCJ Issues Record Number of Judgments in 2018

    CARICOM: During 2018, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) issued 34 judgments and reasons for decision, its highest number of judgments delivered in a calendar year since it began its operations in 2005. Throughout that period, the CCJ also heard 28 new matters in both its Original and its Appellate Jurisdictions. Read more 

    CARICOM Committee of Ambassadors charting enhanced role

    CARICOM: CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque in welcome remarks, told the ambassadors their role, both individually as the link between the regional and the national, and as a constituent group within the governance structure of the Caribbean Community, assumes even greater significance in the renewed drive to implement the provisions of the CSME and other critical areas of the community’s work. Read more 

    No plans for Jexit 

    Jamaica Observer: Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday reiterated that the decision to establish a commission to review his country’s relationship with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) was not intended to create an avenue for it to leave the 15-member regional integration movement. Read more

    Tackle CSME Issues Head On, Urges CARICOM Chairman

    Caribbean360: Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, has urged a “head on” approach to tackling of complex issues during the Special CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) underway in Trinidad and Tobago. Read more

    Guyana pushes trade and investment at OIC meeting in Turkey

    Caribbean News Now: Guyana attended the 34th meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), which was held last week in Istanbul, Turkey. Representing Guyana at the meeting was its permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Michael Ten-Pow, who promoted the opportunities for trade and investment in his country. Read more

    Exxon Mobil could push Guyana past Mexico, Venezuela in oil output

    Houston Chronicle: The small South American nation of Guyana could become the continent’s second-largest oil producer thanks to the offshore discoveries made by Exxon Mobil, according to a new report. Read more 

    Sugar sales down, total exports down (Belize)

    The Reporter (Belize): Revenue earned from sugar exports, Belize’s largest export earner, were down in the month of October, contributing largely to an overall decrease in export revenues of 5.1 percent, according to the Statistical Institute of Belize. Read more

    Region’s Coconut Industry gets EDF boost

    CARICOM: The coconut industry in Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean should soon be receiving a further boost. That is because the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) will be financing a second coconut project in the region. Read more 

    Prensa Latina: The Caribbean Sugar Association (SAC) reported that its members met approximately 80 percent of Caricom”s raw sugar needs during 2017/18 harvest. Read more

    IMF thumbs up for Barbados

    Nation News (Barbados): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) likes the way the Barbados economy is being fixed, calling it an “excellent start”. Read more 

    INTERNATIONAL

    COP24 fails to adopt key scientific report

    BBC: Attempts to incorporate a key scientific study into global climate talks in Poland have failed. The IPCC report on the impacts of a temperature rise of 1.5C, had a significant impact when it was launched last October. Read more 

    Macron threatens to scupper EU-Mercosur trade deal over climate

    Euractiv: French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that he will oppose a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur if Brazil’s incoming far-right president pulls his country out of the Paris Agreement. Read more 

    Mercosur and EU trade negotiators meet in Brasilia

    The Rio Times: The foreign ministers of Mercosur and EU members are meeting in Brasilia on Thursday (December 6th) in an effort to advance the partnership agreement between the two economic blocs. This is the first time Mercosur and the UE are meeting after statements made by France’s Macron caused tension and doubt about the partnership. Read more 

    Why Qatar left OPEC

    Al Jazeera: Explaining the motivation behind the decision, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, Qatar’s minister of state for energy affairs and president and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, said that Qatar’s exit from OPEC “is not political, it was purely a business decision for Qatar’s future strategy towards the energy sector.” Read more 

    RCEP: Experts to evaluate pact to strengthen India’s position

    Hindu Business Line: To sharpen India’s bargaining position in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which is being negotiated among 16 countries, the Commerce Ministry has roped in experts from academic institutions and think-tanks to carry out a detailed study of the pact and give their recommendations. Read more 

    #ACPEU – MEPS agree on a partnership tailored to international context

    EU Reporter: During the 36th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA), which took place from 3 to 5 December in Cotonou (Benin), Members of the European Parliament and their counterparts from 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries debated and adopted several resolutions. Read more 

    Japan-EU trade pact clears hurdle on road to Feb. 1 start

    Nikkei Asian Review: Japan’s parliament approved an economic partnership agreement with the European Union early Saturday, keeping one of the world’s biggest free trade zones on course to take effect Feb. 1. Read more 

    EU agrees post-Brexit import quotas for other WTO members

    Reuters: The European Union endorsed on Friday new tariff rate quotas (TRQs) that the bloc will apply mainly for agricultural products coming from other World Trade Organization members after Brexit. Read more 

    Britons scramble to get E.U. passports before Brexit

    NBC: With the U.K. due to leave the European Union in March, the demand among Britons for citizenship and passports from the other 27 countries in the bloc has skyrocketed. Read more

    DG Azevêdo in US: This is a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to renew trading system

    WTO: Speaking in Washington DC on 5 December, Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said that WTO members have “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to renew the trading system”. He argued that in responding to the range of challenges in the global trading system today, momentum was building towards strengthening and improving the work of the WTO. The Director-General was speaking at the National Foreign Trade Council’s annual World Trade Dinner. Read more 

    Argentina initiates WTO dispute complaint against Peruvian measures on biodiesel imports

    WTO: Argentina has requested WTO dispute consultations with Peru concerning anti-dumping and countervailing measures imposed by Peru on biodiesel imports from Argentina. Argentina’s request was circulated to WTO members on 5 December. Read more 

    Panels established to review India, Swiss complaints against US tariffs

    WTO: At its meeting on 4 December, the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed to requests from India and Switzerland for the establishment of panels to examine tariffs imposed by the United States on steel and aluminium imports. Read more 

    United Kingdom submits draft post-Brexit services commitments to WTO

    WTO: WTO members received today, 3 December 2018, the United Kingdom’s draft schedule outlining its WTO commitments for services once the UK leaves the European Union. Members now have 45 days to review the schedule before certification. Read more 

    China confirms its working on independent WTO reform

    Asia Times: China is planning to put forward an independent proposal to promote WTO reform, Yicai.com reported, citing a government official and several sources. Read more

    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 follow our blog.