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| OECS Ministers Focus on External Trade Negotiations at High Level Meeting |
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| Written by Media |
| Tuesday, 17 July 2007 14:24 |
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Director of the OECS Economic Affairs Division Randy Cato says the OECS must continue its impressive level of coordination, to deal with current and pending negotiations with other territories. This as OECS Ministers of Trade along with the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery held talks in Castries last week, focusing mainly on an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). The regional negotiating machinery CRNM is the official negotiating partner for the OECS member countries and the wider CARICOM.  Cato says the ongoing and pending considerations will require the type of coordination that has been a hallmark of the OECS and one which represents part of the historic achievement of the OECS to fashion common approaches to common challenges in the trade arena and other areas: “We are at the crest of the EPA negotiations, as we move towards what appears to be the conclusion of these negotiations. These are critical trade arrangements being addressed by the OECS because of the implications for the OECS, coming out of the historic relationship with Europe and some of the arrangements that facilitated our marketing of critical products on that market. There is also the support that we have received over the years for our developmental efforts from the European Development Fund and other financial support mechanisms. The EPA negotiations really have to be seen as perhaps the most critical item on the agenda at this time as we seek to determine how we bring these to closure." -Cato. The Meeting of OECS Trade Ministers also coincided with preparations for renewed engagements with Canada and the USA, and with plans to follow up decisions taken by CARICOM on pursuing negotiations with Central American States. In his maiden address to colleague OECS Trade Ministers, chairman of the meeting Grenada’s Anthony Boatswain advised the delegates to say focused on what’s in the best interest of the region: “There is one single trend that runs throughout all of these negotiations and its that we as LDCs must seek to preserve whatever benefits we have negotiated over the years. In that context I don’t think although we have a time frame that we should be railroaded or bulldozed into finalizing any agreement with which we are not comfortable. I think that should be made clear. We understand the other side, the y have their agenda. We shared our own agenda as well. We have to seek our own advantage and whatever we do, do not give up those positions that we have negotiated over the years.” -Boatswain
The OECS Ministers of Trade also reviewed WTO negotiations and matters related to CSME implementation. |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 30 May 2009 17:17 |
The OECS Trade Ministers meeting followed two days of preparations by the OECS Trade Negotiations Group TNG. The TNG comprises senior trade and private sector officials form OECS Member Countries. The Chairman of the OECS Trade Ministers further urged his colleagues to ensure that the role of the TNG continues to provide vital technical advice, thereby enhancing the work of the Ministers as well as relations between the OECS, the wider CARICOM and the rest of the world.Subscribe to our Newsletters
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