The OECS Secretariat through its Trade Policy Unit, recently facilitated an informal discussion between the Castries based Secretariat, representatives of the Public and Private Sectors and Dr. Kathy-Ann Brown - a regional Legal/Trade Consultant who has undertaken focused research on WTO issues and who is currently engaged by the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide support to the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Secretariat in negotiations with the European Union (EU) on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).

The OECS Trade Policy Unit taking advantage of Dr. Brown’s presence in the region for an assignment that was subsequently postponed hosted this informal exchange at the secretariat.

This activity held on Friday, March 28 afforded the opportunity for Dr. Brown to provide an update on the situation within the WTO Negotiations and to engage public and private sector representatives in discussions on:

• Issues relating to coherence in parallel negotiations (WTO-ACP EU-FTAA, bi-laterals).

• Key concerns in the areas of Market Access (Agriculture, Services and Industrial Goods); Negotiations on WTO Rules particularly with respect to Regional Trade Agreements and Subsidies; Special and Differential Treatment; Implementation-related issues and Concerns and Trade-related Intellectual Property and Public Health.

• The way forward particularly in the context of the Doha Development Agenda and the Fifth WTO Ministerial to be held in Cancun, Mexico during the period September 10-14, 2003.

At the meeting, Dr. Brown emphasised the need for active OECS/CARICOM involvement in the negotiations process if the region is to influence the rules governing the international trade environment in an effort to safeguard its interests. In this respect reference was made to the draft Modalities for further Commitments within the WTO Negotiations on Agriculture (which is currently being discussed at the WTO) and to the changes to this document that were effected as a direct consequence of OECS/CARICOM interventions. The exchange also emphasised the important role and the need for increased private sector involvement in the negotiations process