The World Trade Organisation reviews the trade policies and practices of developing countries, such as the OECS member states, every six years. This exercise is one of the obligations of WTO members and helps countries to assess the status of the implementation of their WTO commitments and the impact of other countries trade policies on their economies. This was the second such review for the region, the first one having been conducted in June 2001.

The Commonwealth Secretariat will be collaborating with the OECS Secretariat in the conduct of this meeting.  Officials will review the findings of the Trade Policy Review, focusing on border tax regimes, fiscal incentive programmes and intellectual property rights. One of the outcomes of the discussions will be an action plan for the implementation of outstanding WTO commitments.  The OECS-WTO members are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.