Trade Policy Unit and UNTAD continue to implement a trade facilitation project
The Trade Policy Unit collaborated with UNCTAD to convene two-day validation meetings in Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Antigua/Barbuda in February. During the meetings the national consultants presented the findings of the Needs Assessment Report for the country in order to get feedback from stakeholders in order to finalise the report. The findings of the reports indicated areas in which reform is required and recommended an implementation plan. The next validation meeting will be held in Grenada in March. Following the completion of all validation exercises a regional meeting will be convened in order to agree to measures required to taken for the OECS as a group.
The outputs of the project will be updated national needs self-assessments and implementation plans for each measure under negotiation in the WTO which will build on the achievements of the OECS in trade facilitation and customs reform. Trade Facilitation is about simplifying, standardizing and harmonising procedures involved in international trade transactions in order to reduce costs and time and increase transparency and predictability. Improvements in trade facilitation benefit exporters and importers by reducing the cost of doing business.
The Trade Policy Unit and the Commonwealth Secretariat prepare to convene regional trade policy and negotiations workshop
The Trade Policy Unit and the Commonwealth Secretariat prepared to convene a 5-day workshop on trade policy and negotiations scheduled for March 4-8th 2013 in Saint Lucia. The workshop is targeted at senior trade policy officials and statisticians. Its objective was to enhance their capacity to formulate effective trade policies and improve participation in regional and international trade negotiations. OECS member states are engaged in negotiations with Canada and are party to six trade agreements as part of CARICOM (with the European Union, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Venezuela) and are members of the World Trade Organisation. The Commonwealth Secretariat is providing financing for the workshop.
The Trade Policy Unit continues coordination on the CARICOM-Canada Negotiations
The Trade Policy Unit convened a video conference with trade officials and representatives of the CARICOM Office of Trade Negotiations on 15th February to discuss matters relating to the on-going negotiations with Canada. The focus was on alternative methods for liberalizing trade in services. The modality eventually agreed by CARICOM and Canada will determine the pace at which restrictions on trade in services such as tourism, financial and medical services are removed. The Unit also consulted with regional experts such as the ECCB in order to advise Member States on the negotiations on investment.
Details
| Date Posted | March 14 2013 |